"Rules of the game, baby" (c) M.O.P

Yo,

One thing I'm learning about this industry...even at the "underground/indie/under the radar" level...There are people that will still try to hold your shit back, whether they realize it or not. It's amazing how the right connections can get you "in the door"...but also, the so called "right" connections can straight up shit on you...word up.

I do a lot of research (just like any other artist that stays on the grind), and a lot of the choices I make, I feel, are good decisions...I'm a smart dude, so I check out kats' credentials, experience, previous work and everything. After thoroughly checking them out, I try to reach out to those that I feel can help me with the Edgar Allen Floe movement. In a particular case, I'm looking to pay for their services, just like all of their other clientele.

BUT...I STILL get dissed, shitted on, ignored, and disrespected!!! I'm one of the most down to earth dudes you'll ever meet, and when I reach out to someone, I expect that person or entity to be straightforward with me...The worst thing in the world you can keep dishing me with are empty promises...I've been through shit like this, FROM PEOPLE I WOULD HAVE LEAST EXPECTED IT, for years...but particularly when working on getting "Streetwise" completed, within the last several months.

I truly feel like just because I'm not in the "forefront", selling a huge number of records yet(even for an "underground" artist), and the fact that I'm trying to build my name from the ground up...people think they can just disrespect you...like your shit is not worthy, compared to the other artists they may be working with...Now I know, this is a BUSINESS, so at the end of the day, it's all about the bottom line...But in my case...the services I was looking for (at least I thought) are partly based on THE QUALITY OF THE MUSIC...along with other things (image, marketability, previous accolades, etc)...I always read about how it's the music that drives these particular companies to work hard for you, to achieve desired results.

And I'm not trying to be another artist with his or her sobb story about the industry...that's not my point...To me, in the professional (business) arena, I've always expected someone's word to be their bond. Respect is big with me, so if the respect level isn't there when I'm dealing with you, I can't do business with you...period. Don't tell me "I'll have this done for you by Monday", and you don't even ATTEMPT to call me a week AFTER Monday!!! Maybe I value professionalism too heavily in the rap game...maybe no one cares about that. Integrity, honesty, etc...Maybe that's why everyone looks down on the rap industry...'cause there are no Code of Ethics...I don't know.

Or maybe I'm just expecting too much...being a "new" artist. Maybe I don't have enough stripes to voice my frustrations...to have certain expectations...even for services I intend to pay for.

There are still good people out there that I AM working with...For instance, I wouldn't be able to put together my own Canadian tour this December if it wasn't for people lending a hand...and I greatly appreciate and respect that. But it just shocks me to have one of the top people at their skill that I had reached out to...to just totally ignore me...like I'm not worth shit...saying they will do this and do that, but come up with NOTHING...ESPECIALLY when I've known this person for years, but never had the opportunity to actually do business with them, until now.

My album was pushed back two and a half months, because of the trust I put into this person to get the job done...and for what? Nothing...My momentum has been shot, just like that...Now I have to regroup and look elsewhere for the services I was hoping to have done...more than likely from someone I've never talked to beforehand. But who knows, maybe I'll gain new lifelong friends and peeps in the process...always gotta look at the potential "silver lining".

BUT...I WILL KEEP GRINDING. I will keep doing what I do...as a label owner, as an emcee, as a producer, as a mixer/engineer, as a manager, as a booking agent...whatever. But I tell ya...some of the people in this music game are UNBELIEVABLE...no matter how many records you sell...