AOG Series: Key Messaging

This Friday your boy (with my Fuzion counterparts) will be leading a forum at an NYU conference on Media and Messaging as it relates to the Black/Latino male population.. I’m excited and as I’ve been doing my due diligence on the media, I’m turning this vehicle into a sounding board for voices of reason.. AOG style..

A change is coming.. We are in the midst of a cultural revolution.. Yet another one during the storied history of America, but the first one that most of us will live through.. It’s exciting.. I was talking to my boy this past week, as we were in the midst of the revitalization of Harlem.. He mentioned that he felt he was born in the wrong era.. He was more Harlem Renaissance era than this other.. The look, the style, the opportunities, the love.. All of those things we know and appreciate about Harlem, is what he was referring to.. I felt the same.. But then I thought longer.. And I think I needed to have been a time traveler, cuz I would say I’m part Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights struggle, 80’s Baby, and now.. I see myself in all of those eras, and wanting to be in those eras.. As an 80’s baby, I’m not proud of all the stuff we went through, but I appreciate it and know it’s a big part of me..

But then I think about now.. This new cultural revolution.. This one has blogs, vlogs, and dogs that get treated better than middle-class Americans.. This one that has shown a change in politics and a viable Black president.. This one that has turned television from Must-See TV to Everything That I Can Possibly See TV.. Where Flava Flav can get 3 seasons of dating ugly chicks with phat asses, and then land a sitcom on another network.. This one has Sofia from The Color Purple pretty much owning The Color Purple, Green and her OWN network.. This one has the rebirth of the Harlem Renaissance and TROUBL owning the word nigga.. That’s real..

I like this one the most because of that last bit.. Because of TROUBL.. Because we have more resources at our fingertips and more voices to spread the message.. Shoot, TROUBL has the TROUBL blog site, TROUBL Magazine, TROUBL Radio, and soon TROUBL TV.. What other era really made that possible for us?? That’s what my talk is going to speak on this Friday.. So many opportunities for us to create and distribute our own messages.. So many vehicles.. Many less excuses.. And that’s what I love.. On Friday I can tell them all that they can make their own voice be heard.. If they choose to use what they have in front of them.. You don’t have to wait on a job with the NY Times or BET.. If they drag their feet you can make your own The Economist magazine and Oprah Winfrey Network.. That’s only if you really want it..

Think about the irony of “don’t talk about it, be about it”.. Many times you can be about it, and don’t nobody know.. I mean, it should be, first and foremost, something that you believe in and don’t need the acclaim or props for it.. But, many times it can be something so big or so good that everyone should hear it, and it doesn’t get covered.. So I’m glad to live in this era where we can say “talk about it, be about it” and we can actually do both.. And it be positive.. With or without the help..

So, as I’ll be challenging the future voices of reason at NYU, I’m also challenging the future AOGs.. Talk about it and be about it.. Let your voice be heard, and put it into action.. While you’re doing, make sure your message is being heard.. Make sure you find vehicles to support your AOG cause.. If you don’t find any, make your own.. Pedal your bike down the block and scream it.. Get at TROUBL.. Make your own TROUBL..

Just make it happen..

AOG Series: Take a Break..

Sometimes that’s all we need.. A break.. Not necessarily a handout.. Nothing that a stimulus package can provide except for covering your overdue cable bill or maybe the heating bill, cuz those charges continue to rise for no dang reason.. Having you thinking someone is stealing electricity from you or something..

Nah, the break I’m talking about is a self-imposed break.. Time away from it all.. Cuz we all need those.. We might feel like superheroes from time to time, but none of us have recuperating powers like Wolverine.. It’s just not happening.. We need rest.. Shoot, sometimes we need a reset button, but for some reason we don’t allow ourselves to press it.. Or even pause.. Nah, if we do that, then somehow we’ll be human.. Newsflash.. We are human.. We can take a break.. We definitely need them..

Hillary needs one, but she keeps pressing on.. Now she looks like a stray dog or cat lashing out at anybody who tries to feed her.. That’s not a good look.. Ever heard of the term, “sleep on it”? We can do that.. Cuz the opposite is probably worse.. Barack has needed them, and he’s stayed away.. And has looked poised after doing so.. TV shows take breaks, so that they can come back with fresh ideas and insight (someone please tell that to VH1 and BET).. Sports leagues do the same thing.. Even the government.. Shoot, some sleep while they are on the job!! (too easy of a shot to take, my bad)..

Go overseas if you get the chance.. If anyone knows how to break, it’s people outside of the US!! They start with about 3 months of vacation.. When they break, they break.. Out.. Gone.. 0-90 in 2 seconds.. They don’t look back, worry about workload, nothing.. They just bounce.. And come back 3 months later and get right back into it.. It’s a beautiful thing to witness.. Ever wondered about their economy or standard of living and wonder why it’s better than ours?? Go peep the game that they play..

Us? US? Here? Sheeit.. We rush back from our vacation, stressing about all the work that’s on our table.. We lose vacation days doing that.. We don’t sleep well on Sunday, knowing we gotta go back in and clean up after someone else’s mess.. Am I lying?

Gangsters need breaks too! Shoot, some of them take longer ones in federal establishments.. I mean, you don’t want those breaks, but sometimes it’s a necessary evil.. Bad boys move in silence.. Really? Tell some of them dudes around the block making all that noise.. Oh, my bad, those aren’t gangsters either.. They just act.. We have to educate our actors as well.. Your block is hot? Take a break for a sec, cuz that’s silence too.. Job getting under your skin, call out sick.. Take a break, before they break you..

Only have a few vacation days left? Take mental breaks during the day.. Read a book at night.. Relax your mind, let your conscience be free.. Daydream.. Go chill with your girl/boy for a drink.. Sit on the corner and listen to the street.. Check out sites that push your boundaries.. Those are breaks too.. You really think your boss expects you to work every minute of every day? Get real.. I’m a boss, and I know good and well, that I’m lucky to get 5 productive hours out of my people every day.. It is what it is.. I used to be in the same position, and the bottom line was getting ht job done.. That’s what I did, and I did in less than 8 hours.. I had some me time in there.. So, don’t stress over “the man” watching your every move.. We can’t do that.. We don’t have the time nor the energy for that, because it shows over time.. The people at the top learned that when they were on the bottom.. We ain’t really tripping over that..

So take a break.. A few of them.. Every little bit counts.. You’re not asking anymore, remember, you’re taking in 2008.. Take a break.. Chill out, relax.. Think.. Thinking might be the best break known to all of us.. Think hard, think twice, think about yourself.. For a change.. I won’t tell.. I promise..

AOG Series: Straight, No Chaser

“The game ain’t the same no more..”

You can probably quote a whole bunch of rappers, gangster movies, and people around the way for that line.. I’ll go ahead and quote myself.. I’m jealous of the old school gangsters.. The Malcolms.. Jeff Forts.. Mikes.. Back then rules meant more.. I mean, you could change the rules, but you better have had a strong support system if you planned on doing that.. Or just a mean idea.. Nowadays? Shoot, you don’t need nothing but a mouthpiece.. Not too many more, “is he serious?” Or “negro please?” Or “no way Jose!” Or whatever term people used to shut nonsense down immediately..

Nowadays? People are either changing the rules on a whim’s notice, or there just aren’t too many rules left.. It’s almost like anything goes.. Honestly, I can’t stand it.. Your word used to be your bond.. Now words mean nothing as we see Webster adding words to the dictionary that don’t belong.. Irregardless, I’m bitter at our social landscape.. I conversate with people that really think conversate is a word.. That’s cool, but when I let you in that you sound ridiculous (but I say it in a nice way), you laugh it off and keep going with it.. Because nowadays nobody is straight anymore.. We all playing with the rainbow..

Yellow dudes raise their voice to you in public, but would cross the state line if they saw you in the street.. The Blues don’t bleed the same blood we bleed.. They make up sob stories that were never true, cuz they can.. Get away with it, that is.. The Reds end up stealing elections and running countries into the ground for 8 years at a time.. Telling so many lies that they have to laugh as they say it.. State of the Union address, Post 911 speeches, War updates.. Peep the chuckles in each of those moments.. Wasn’t nothing funny.. Orange people just look funny.. Lying about their complexion like we can’t tell they tan.. Orange is not a pigment of our imagination.. We don’t believe you, you need more people.. Nah, nevermind that.. It’s enough of y’all going around, and y’all got shows on TV and stuff.. I’m just sayin’..

Green dudes make deals that they never plan on owning up to.. Them green dudes are the craziest right now.. They lie about doing business with you, because they can.. They run the businesses and keep that green paper in their pocket.. They build companies and then milk them before leaving the employees left on Gilligan’s Island.. Then they get caught, get their people (other Green backs) to work(out) the system, and they get to go to Arizona in a prison that is nicknamed “The Biltmore” or “Camel(green)back”.. None of it helping any of us struggling to be a song on the Kweli album..

All I’m saying is, can we have the rainbow back? Can we just be straight with one another like they used to be back in the day? (props to that comedian for saying that joke!).. Can’t we all get along and be truthful to one another? We can tell little black lies, but nothing blatant.. Shouldn’t the truth set you free? If we keep lying to each other, won’t we remain locked up in this mess?

In other words, if you gotta live a lie, then you can’t be a gangster.. Peep that I said “live” and not “tell”.. There is a difference.. Educate one another about our history (and your history, and her’s too).. We weren’t always like this.. Do your research, cuz an AG would.. No lie..

R.I.P. Big Brother – Love you..

AOG Series: Spread the Word

What’s your definition of a gangster?

“You have people who go to work everyday 9-to-5 that are gangster in my eyes. There’s a parallel between the CEO of a major company… and a guy who’s the boss in the neighborhood.”

–50 Cent
Vibe Magazine, March ‘08

I’m not trying to take credit, but I’m just saying.. Peep that in the latest issue of Vibe.. They need to credit TROUBL, but we’ll let that slide for the time being.. I love the word of mouth ability that we have.. There is nothing like it.. Every AG has instituted that in its marketing plan.. On the street, it could be a pigeon or a young runner that is spreading the word.. In the boardroom it’s the whispers that resonate whenever the boss is in the building.. A great feeling to have.. I still recall vividly when I was out on business and my partner from Cali came into the office.. Word traveled quickly.. Dude was treated like a king, too.. I almost felt like it was his company when I came back to the office.. But, as I recall the story, it feels good.. Dude had that power..

Gangsters aren’t made by their lonesome.. Most times, we’re carried by others in the beginning.. Others spread the word about us, and the legend spreads.. Behind every AG, there’s a great viral marketing campaign.. Remember that dude you grew up with that was knocking cats out for no reason? Or the fastest dude on the block? The cat that could grab coins off the backboard.. The chick that could jump double-dutch like no other? The girl that could beat up the other guys? Man, when I look back, I was the fastest on the block for a sec.. They hyped me up.. I mean, I was fast, but I knew other dudes could get me in a race.. When I felt the pack catching up, I knew it was time to retire.. Why get beat? Shoot, I had my rep of “I’m sick of beating y’all all the time, someone can have the crown”.. Even though I knew that next cat was one more race from beating me.. I wasn’t about to go out like Joe Louis or Ali.. Or Mike.. The bottom line, the boys and girls on the South Side of Chicago trumped me up to be bigger than I was.. Not me.. Let’s not sleep on our own abilities to make a difference..

Shout loud and long about our own gangsters.. Who were some of the gangsters that you’ve made in your lifetime? If you don’t feel like talking about it, that’s cool.. Just remember it.. Remember the power you held in making it happen for others.. Remember that we can build giants and gangsters, if we really believe in them.. We don’t have to come equipped with the gangster lifestyle.. I have a young AG in training that’s going to be on ABC tonight in “A Raisin in the Sun” (8/7c).. Justin Martin.. Peep him.. I’ve been hyping him since I first met him.. Knew he was on that path, and did all that I could to move him up the ranks ASAP.. If you hadn’t heard about him, you would’ve after I was through talking with you.. Shoot, I have business meetings in one of my clients’ establishments, just to spread the word.. AGs exist all over the place, we just need to get our marketing on..

Spread the word.. You never know, the next thing you hear could be a story about yourself! Or a feature in Vibe that says some things that you’ve already said or thought!! You never know!!

AOG Series: Gangster Starter Kit Part 2

Fresh off the trip to New Orleans to witness the players, hustlers, pimps, prostitutes that look like men, ballers on a budget, women prepped and primed, and a handful of AGs, I bring you the 2nd installment of the Gangster Starter Kit.. If you didn’t peep the first one, you need to go check it, because I’m not providing the Cliff Notes for this..

I was inspired even more by what I witnessed this past weekend, and I realized that I needed to offer all of you much more than I did with the first part.. So, enjoy!

• Personal Hygiene Products
So, I figured this was a no-brainer.. I figured wrong.. No AG is running around funky or a hot mess.. An AG might forget his gum, but you better believe that an AG will make a mental note to go grab some at the first opportunity.. Funky breath is bad for all of our/your senses.. Not just the sense of smell.. Peep game.. Your funky breath bothers my sight.. When I can see fumes coming from your mouth, that’s not a good thing.. Bad breath can make your eyes water.. When your breath affects my sense of taste, that’s a big problem.. You basically just ished in my mouth, and I’ve never partaken in a dish of poop, but some of y’all are forcing this on us.. And when you get so close that I have to swing? Yea, that’s touch.. Deodorant is a must as well.. Same with brushing your hair (this coming from a dude that doesn’t own a brush or comb!).. Get your hygiene game together people!! All-around funkiness, is very not gangsta..

• Mental GPS System
An AG has to be aware of his surroundings.. Nah, I’m not talking about knowing how to get around time, find your local greenery man, or the best soul food spot.. I’m talking about knowing where you are and how to act accordingly.. Do not show up to a black-tie affair with your tshirt unless it’s a Nike event or something.. Don’t go throwing out the n-word when you’re the only Black person around, you just sound like the n-word.. Don’t go meeting your man’s family for the first time, looking like you’re ready to hit up Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras.. Your Mental GPS should let you know when it’s right to pull out that business card so that you can win a new client, or make a great connection.. That is very gangsta..

• Credible Sphere of Influence
This one is important.. Surround yourself with good people, and the chances of you doing some good to great things are increased.. A posse is cool.. I’m not mad at a posse.. Just make sure your posse is not going to bring you down.. When your posse is full of men itchin’ for a scratch, y’all might have fleas.. That’s not gangsta.. If your posse is full of women diggin’ for gold, y’all might want to watch I’m Gonna Git You Sucka again.. You can die from that!! An AG can tap into his rolodex to find the best party at All-Stars and get you and a few others in without a problem.. An AG can pull out the crackberry and have that lawyer ready to come bail him out in a second.. Need that ticket to a sold-out concert? You want some connects that can get you to the show.. A connect that can help get your child into school.. Just something tangible.. I mean, maybe 1 or 2 (okay 3 or 4) can help get you those greens to get you through a rough night, because we all have our days and moments.. That’s gangsta too..

So, those are just 3 additions to the kit.. Out of those 3, if you can’t get all 3, start with that first one.. A stick of gum, lotion, Sure.. I’ll give you that for free..

Until next time.. Stay gangsta..

Working Too Hard To Be Poor..

i'm sitting in Baton Rouge, La. on business at 6 something in the morning, focused on ways to generate more income for me and my family (and employees), i turn on the tv.. hoping that it would put me back to sleep, i turn on Good Morning America.. Oprah was on speaking about her role in Barack's campaign.. then she says something that hits me.. something that i flip immediately.. something that is now the title of this blog..

Working Too Hard To Be Poor..

that's deep to me.. shoot, that's why i wrote it (who am i fooling?).. i find myself in that position.. i find a lot of us in that position.. and this isn't a race thing.. this might be more of a class this.. maybe more of an American thing.. i don't know, but it hit me and compelled me to write.. something i haven't done in weeks..

i've been down.. i won't front.. as a Black man, that's hard to say.. i've been depressed.. others around me have been depressed.. the news is depressing.. I’m seeing my brothers being killed.. I’m seeing my people being locked up.. I’m seeing my people battle injuries that can affect their livelihood.. business has been rough.. man business has been rough..

i've worked so hard to get to where i am, and now i'm faced with a big part of my business being affected by things out of my control.. i'm a marketer.. i run what many believe and feel is an up-and-coming force in this industry.. i'm not saying that to toot my own horn, because the work is out there.. but i'm a small guy amongst billion dollar giants.. i try to conduct business as ethically as possible, but in doing so i feel that i have lost so much..

so much money.. so much time.. so much energy.. we always try to find ways to rationalize things, and tell ourselves it will be better.. being raised in the church, that's our mentality.. "everything is going to be alright".. "it's all in God's hands".. but reality is a bitch, booooooy!! shoot, my ability to use a cuss word right after saying God is a testament to that.. sometimes we start to wonder if it's going to be alright.. shoot, i've had a client go back on about $300,000 worth of business.. that hurts.. especially when we hire people specifically for the account.. that shit hurts.. i've had a client try to tarnish my name and reputation in this athlete business that i also have.. and i'm doing things the right way (at least that's what some agents and league officials have told me to my face).. million dollar athlete.. owes me $15,000 for work we've done on his behalf.. an easy check for him to write.. and because i had my employees (and myself) work so hard at the beginning of our contract relationship, we made the Red Sea part.. gave him everything that would normally take a year.. but we made it happen.. and i feel that because he has it all now, he doesn't want to pay anymore.. it's sad.. i'm not even trying to hold him to the contract at this point.. i learned a lot about dude, and i don't want to be associated with him AT ALL.. but i do want my money..

i'm not a rich dude.. i'm from the South Side of Chicago.. born and raised.. dirt poor.. nothing.. nadda.. zip.. zero.. i feel like i lived the American dream.. i overcame those obstacles to be here.. i'm not alone.. a lot of us have worked too hard to continue to be poor.. and that hurts.. what do we say to our children when we do things right and just, only to be in the same position?? what do we say to our loved ones when we come home with an empty bank account, but have a lot of work to show for? that work doesn't pay a bill.. creditors don't care about that work.. they care about that cash..

i sit here, fresh off of signing 2 more athletes.. another NFL player and our first WNBA player.. but i'm sad because i'm faced with the reality that we all work so hard, but could be right back to where we started in a heartbeat.. yes, we adapt.. shoot, i'm adapting from my hardship with my other company to transition most of my efforts to this athlete business.. i've worked too hard.. we've worked too hard.. you've worked too hard..

but what's the remedy? what's the solution? it's definitely not the new Beanie Sigel album! so what do we do? who do we turn to? will the next election help those that work so hard finally find a way to get up and out? will our voice get bigger? will our voice make a change? because talking doesn't pay a bill, unless you're a minister!! so many unanswered questions.. i sit here in my hotel room, lost.. i know exactly where i am, but i have no clue as to when things will change..

holiday season is not too cheery for me.. i won't see my family, because i can't commit funds to it knowing that i might REALLY need those funds next week, tomorrow or today.. don't cry for me, though.. cry for all of us.. all of us being faced with the reality that we can work so hard to make a change for ourselves.. that we can work so hard to make a living for ourselves and our families.. we can work so hard and have nothing to show for it.. we can work too hard and still be poor.. that's a tough reality pill to swallow.. shoot, my niece just sent me her report card through email last night and i see that she has a 3.3.. i'm so proud of her.. it hasn't been easy for her on the South Side of Chicago, especially in school.. shoot, she's a bully as well with a mouth to match.. she got that from me and my sister.. but all of my family follow in my footsteps and i'm worried about them seeing me falter..

"Unlce Q went to Northwestern, had his own companies, has a sphere of influence that includes some big time influential 'friends', and he struggles everyday.."

i'm working hard for that line not to be a true story.. i really don't know how that story will end.. i'm working hard.. but again.. i find myself in the same line as most of America.. looking for that welfare check.. not literally, but i'm just saying..

Q.

AOG Series: Gangster Starter Kit Part 1

Come one, come all!! You’ve seen the Hip-Hop Starter Kits sold on MTV, BET and VH1, and in the back pages of XXL, Vibe and your favorite hip-hop magazines.. You know, the ones that teach you how to be a Wanksta, Backpacker or Video *cough* Vixen.. You’ve seen the Presidential Starter Kits as well.. Barack didn’t intend for his “Hope” to be jacked by other Presidential Wanna-Be’s, but that’s what he gets for having big rappers back him, and videos created for him.. I mean, when Tyra can book Obama, Clinton and Edwards and pretty much talk about nothing? Yea, that’s leading the pack..

Don’t sleep, though, because we have the TV Producer Starter Kits too!! Call it TRL, 106th & Park, Real World or College Hill, but Starter Kits seem to be all that you need to get by.. I think Bill Gates might have created one, too! I’m still waiting for my Oprah Kit (OK playa) to arrive in the mail.. My own Dr. Phil is going to be sick!!

So in that spirit, we announce The Anatomy of a Gangster Starter Kit!! After careful consideration, insight and due diligence, we present steps at becoming the next AG..

• Your own nickname or “just a name”
Mike, MJ, Oprah, Barack, Hov, Gates, The Answer, Tiger, Tyra, Denzel, Alicia.. You have to get to that point to be an AG.. One name, one letter, one symbol (I see you, Prince!).. You gotta get there.. If someone is saying your whole government in order for the general public to notice you? Yea, in the words of the Boondocks’ Riley, “that is very not gangsta..”..

•Nice wardrobe
You have to have your clothing game right in order to be an AG.. And let’s not get that confused in having your own line.. Cuz, some people have garbage lines that also are very not gangsta.. So, listen up, Generation Me.. Those long t-shirts are truly gowns.. Baggy jeans should mean that you have some breathing room.. Not room to fit another person or two.. A blazer should fit you perfectly.. If you have shoulder pads that don’t sit on your shoulders? Yea, that is very not gangsta.. Ladies, if your business suit shows all ass and cleavage, that is very not gangsta.. I mean, we men appreciate it, but I’m not able to think about respecting you when you have the twins staring at me.. Y’all know our focus is already questionable.. The tight jeans? Yea, we love them too, but at some point even we (men) start to wonder if you’re cutting off your blood circulation.. So, just get your clothing game right.. Clothes that fit.. A nice sense of style..

•Common Sense
You cannot be a gangster if you believe everything you see and hear.. You have to have a very strong sense of what is logical and what smells funny.. A rapper/politician/actor/man/girl can’t define what you do or say.. At least not as your Bible, Qur’an, Mathematics or anything else.. Common sense also tells you that you have to take time to learn.. You have to study.. Whether it’s a textbook, a playbook, history, script or blog, you have to study your craft and hone it.. Then you have to Oprah it (peep the past AOG: OWN).. Sometimes it’s just stopping to think for a second.. WWAGD (What Would an American Gangster Do – for the slow ones out there).. Spend money on rims or a house? Go to school or the block? (Frank wasn’t on the block!) If you want to be on the path of an AG, then just stop and think.. WWAGD??

•Your own theme song
If you’re really big, you can have your own soundtrack.. We knew about the importance of your own song way back when Keenan provided that tidbit of information in “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka”.. We just didn’t listen.. Think about it.. All AG’s have their own theme music.. Remember when the Bulls started their reign as the best since those old time Celtics?? What do you remember?? Mike? Yea, kinda.. Pip? I guess so.. Big Chief Triangle? Not Really.. Rodman? Of course.. But don’t front.. Y’all know who created the player announcements (or at least took it to the next level).. That’s right “Your, Chicago Bulls!!”.. Lights went out, music started blaring and you knew what was coming next.. Be honest, if you’re a sports fan and you know what I’m talking about, you’re getting hype right now just thinking about that theme music.. For the non-sports fans out there, think about what’s going on with Barack or even the jingles that you remember and associate to people and products.. That Apple jingle? Law & Order sound? Martin’s show theme? The music speaks volumes for it.. “Sometimes I feel, that he is me…” Ahh, let me stop..

So there you have it.. Part 1 to your The Anatomy of a Gangster Starter Kit.. For consultation on the Gangster Starter Kit, please feel free to contact me for more information.. Otherwise, stay tuned..