
XXL.com let it be known they were confused on why artist Freddie Gibbs is gracing the cover of LA Weekly.
Let’s be clear, I’m not mad at Freddie. Get your shine. I’m not mad at Weiss either. It was a great story that was reported really well and written eloquently (as usual). It’s just that if it’s true that in LA Weekly’s 29-year history they haven’t put a single rap act on their cover since N.W.A. in 1989, it’s kind of crazy that when they finally do acknowledge the genre again with a cover nod it’s for a dude from Gary, Indiana (not named Jackson). Gary, Indiana? Seriously?
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).
Freddie Gibbs took to his twitter to air out his disagreement to XXL’s comments, and now Skee has decided to address the issue as well via his blog.
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, andhave 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…)
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