Friday, December 4, 2009

In Response to XXL's Article...



If you missed it, a lot of people have been talking about the XXL Article (click here to read) and Freddie Gibbs being on the cover of L.A. Weekly. Specifically, I wanted to address this part that was directed at me:





"To add insult to injury, I noticed that the article was listed, naturally, in a section labeled “Los Angeles Music.” My eyes burned a hole in those words for a minute as I thought about the protest in Los Angeles held last week in front of Power 106. Artists picketed in front of their offices on Black Friday to call attention to their lack of support of L.A. artists. Then I thought about the Snoop video I blogged about earlier this week, where he aired out L.A. DJ’s who are usually not from the city and don’t support local artists—like Skee (who happens to be affiliated with Gibbs).

“Let me tell you why we fell off,” said Snoop. “For one, L.A. radio don’t support us. We got DJs out there that don’t come from L.A., that don’t support our music, that don’t give us love, don’t give us a shot. They’d rather play Drake, Lil Wayne, whoever else is hot. No disrespect. Hey, I love they music. That shit is hot. They bangin. They got hot records. But fuck that, them niggas ain’t from the West Coast. So, nigga, they should be on the back burner.”"


My reaction:

1) To clarify, I am not on Power, I left that station over a year ago.
2) Snoop is absolutely not addressing me. In fact, I just did another new mixtape with him last week, and have done countless projects and other stuff with him- This article misconstrues it as if he is talking about me, which is not true. In addition, on a side note, I have footage of Snoop & I discussing these specific issues, with him supporting me and mentioning others, if you would like further proof.
3) I support West Coast music as much as anyone, and despite the fact I was born in NYC and lived other places growing up, LA has become my home over the past 8 years and my city. Please refer to my latest radio show that aired on December 1st (you can download the podcast in the podcast section, or by clicking here via BallerStatus.com). In TWO hours, i played no less than 32 songs that were or featured a west coast artist, including Snoop Dogg, The Game, Ice Cube, Pac Div, Nipsey Hussle, Jay Rock, G Malone, Kobe, Strong Arm Steady, Problem, Dubb, Too $hort, E-40, Bishop Lamont, Xzibit, Crooked I, Terrace Martin, DJ Quik, Kurupt, 2Pac, The Cold Flamez, B Legit, Kida, and Rome. Is this considered not supporting the West?!? Please show me one person on commercial or satellite radio playing more right now (where we do have limitations and playlists to follow, and yet I still get these records in!).
4) Furthermore, the author of the article, Brooklyne Gipson, lives in New York. By using the same logic she used in the above article, she isn't in any place to address these issues by not being here (not that I agree with that logic, but just sayin...)

In my thoughts, good music is good music. I try to support in no matter where its from. Was 2Pac from LA? No. Am i associated with Gibbs? Absolutely. He makes dope music, regardless of where he's from, and I feel has next- am I not supposed to work with him because he's not from LA? I have been associated with numerous artists in the past from the early onset of their careers, both from the West and other places, including The Game, Akon, David Banner, G Malone, The New Boyz, etc etc etc. Should LA Weekly not do a cover on him because hes not from LA? I can name tons of other people who weren't from LA and were also on the cover- a good story is a good story, and relevant outside of just where it was. If that logic played true, no one outside of Gary would know about Freddie, and that would be a true shame.

I feel there are valid points in the article and that work does need to be done to help the west coast music scene, and I am open to helping any and everyone possible. I have built my name, brand, and credibility on authenticity, helping break good new music and new artists, and giving back to my adopted home city. If anyone has any issues, doubts, or anything else to say or address, I am not hard to reach or contact. If there is more I can do, I am totally open to any suggestions and ideas, as I am far from perfect and always respect and take in opinions and ideas from others. Just don't say I don't support local artists from my city.

Sincerely,

*SK

15 Comments:

Blogger Mitch said...

You tell em Skee.

http://aquickintermission.blogspot.com/

December 4, 2009 at 3:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good read and good points
At least your putting your full support skee,

SAPE
www.myspace.com/sapeonline

December 4, 2009 at 3:33 PM  
Anonymous Moe said...

Great rebuttal Skee. You do a lot for the music community. Nobody can take that away from you.

Keep doing your thing man!

December 4, 2009 at 4:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Freddie Gibbs deserves the cover.
Great job DJ Skee

December 4, 2009 at 4:59 PM  
Anonymous Teef aka Nonchalant Misfit said...

co-sign.

well written response.

stay up.

December 4, 2009 at 9:33 PM  
Anonymous Dr. Hollywood said...

L.A. is blessed to have a dj who is supportive to it's local artists as dj skee. It's because of him that independent artists like myself stand a chance.

December 4, 2009 at 10:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

what up Skee you should be on the lookout for a young woman by the name of Love that's comin out of L.A.

just a lil head's up. check the name: LOVE

December 4, 2009 at 11:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

YOU DDINT EVEN NEED TO WRITE ANY SORTA RESPONSE TO THAT . ITS TOTALLY REDICULOUS .NEW SNOOP MIXTAPE IS BETTER THAN ALBUM

December 4, 2009 at 11:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Skee is not only a great dj but a great business man for west coast artists as well, the marketing he and his team "Skee.TV" do for artists should be praised, congrats on the haters Skee, keep doing you fam!

December 5, 2009 at 1:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ethered.

December 5, 2009 at 10:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

from dc and i know you rep the west I'm still bumpin The Layover with EV. keep up the good work

December 5, 2009 at 2:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Skee-

That XXL article wasn't an article. It was a blog. An opinion.

I'll be reaching out to you via email soon to explain my tweets earlier.

Peace,
Slav

December 5, 2009 at 8:44 PM  
Anonymous josh britt said...

i love hearing gibbs name over the internet...im from gary so support this niggas whereva he at

December 6, 2009 at 12:20 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

didn't even deserve a response, but you got to tell the truth. well written. do your research people before you fire shots!!

December 9, 2009 at 1:23 PM  
Anonymous doobiegirl73 said...

i luv ur mix tapes and you rep shit i don't hear anywhere else. Your art speaks for itself.

December 17, 2009 at 8:38 PM  

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