We have the scoop from marketing & sales executive who has represented and presented notable brands such as Roc-A-Wear, Bigg Snoop Dogg, Ruff Ryders Dirty Denim, Da Link Went Wear from the Las Vegas M.A.G.I.C. show to midwest show rooms and the Chicago Niles show.

 

So if you want to work in hip hop fashion here are...

 

 

1. Exclusive Fun & Parties - 3 words... off the chains! The parties are exclusive, starstudded, open bar, invite only (you can't pay your way in) and basically in two more words they are "like that" and if you are in the upper ranks of a notable Hip Hop line's design or sales team you easily find yourself on the V.I.P. list for them.

2. Close team - clothing lines are often close knit teams working together, their staff is not as large as many other brands that have the same notoriety. Working together can feel a lot like being in a small family.

3. Realism with longevity - setting the goal of working in high level or business to business sales for a Hip Hop clothing line is a more realistic or more attainable goal than being a rapper your career can also last a lot longer than the career of most artists

4. Variety - the fashion industry is fast paced & constantly changing which leaves very little opportunity for anything like boredom.

5. Business - unlike promoting parties, tours, or many other music related venues to make money; the nature of hip hop fashion is not as heavily dependent on hard to manage artist appearances which is a great up in entertaiment

 

5 Downs:

1. Continuity - the hip hop line only lasts as long as the artists that it represents, you always have to have your eye on your next gig, and the cut throat nature of some reps & staff members can also mean that others are constantly eyeing YOUR current position

2. Smaller team, smaller resources - you might have to be your own support staff. There is no room for a "that's not my job" mentality. 

3. Hip Hop's work really is your LIFE - work days can start 4:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 a.m. so you really need to be ready to give up all your chill time to work, especially when their are fashion shows, trade shows, or artist appearances that you need to work - practice your being able to give up chillin' for your grind now, turn off the t.v. & hit those books!

4. All that glitters - no matter what your title you may need to do serious grunt work on a very regular basis. Setting up & getting ready for events starts early in the morning and requires all hands on deck to get clothes hung, boxes broken down, clothes steamed, ironed, floors swept after unpacking, etc. on time. (More proof of even less room for a "that's not my job mentality")

5. C.O.D. - if you work in sales everything is paid on delivery and the business cycle can be seasonal so even if you write a lot of orders hiccups in shipping can mean that you don't get paid for your efforts the seasonal nature of fashion can also keep your paper in a bit of flux

 

Things to keep in mind from Hip HopTruth...

We have the scoop from a bonafide tour D.J. who has performed with some of the nations most successful rappers in some of the largest venues.

 

So if you want to be a D.J. here are...

 

 

1. You are the backbone of the show - you make sure that the performance moves along the way it should

2. You sometimes get just as much play as the artist performing

3. Not only are you backstage, You are backstage VIP - nuff said.

4. You get to hype up the crowd & control the crowd (this is also a responsiblity, be up for it)

5. If the artist is big enough (i.e. national act - T.I., Luda, Kanye, etc.) you can get paid very well

 

1. You are responsible for setting up all of your equipment

2. Making sure you are at sound check to "make sure " everything sounds right & is hooked up correctly

3. Even if you are tired and the event doesn't coincide with your schedule you still have to work & be on point

4. After the performance, when everyone is going to the after party you have to tear down all of your equipment & move it to a safe secured place (unless you pay someone to do it)

5. After it's all said and done you might not get paid a lot of money or at all

 

Bonus things to think about from Hip HopTruth.com:

 

-Tours are not consistent, until you have enough money to cover bills for at least a year you should have a "day job" or back up work to make money when nobody is touring or when the people who are touring don't want to tour with you

-Being a Tour D.J. is a good opportunity to promote yourself or your mixtapes

-If the tour gets cancelled you are out of a job & need to look for new income

-Tour schedules are tight - you should start practicing being extra punctual, good at time management skills & able to work when you don't feel like it RIGHT NOW (feel free to use your current job, school, studying, housework, whatever your current responsibilities are for practice)

? Did you know...?

•  A lot of newer or smaller artists end up making about 40 G's per year, mega-stars will definitely make more than that but for many 2-3 hit phenom's a lot of that money fronted by the label gets ate up by videos, promo costs, house rentals, etc. you know, "the lifestyle" (or more accurately "the image")...artists make money on tour, its work, you have to work so don't think they get to lay around all day, if you want to be successful start practicing working hard everyday at something now - source interview: conversation with Interscope exec., reconfirmed by several other exec's/legends

• That technically even NFL stars have a 9 - 5 or more like 8 a.m. to whenever...? That's right they are up bright, early, & generally on time for daily team meetings (it sounded a lot like getting up & out on time for class) - source, interview with Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina Panthers Wide Receiver 

• What you see on T.V. is not real life. The job of these artists is to make money...their job is to entertain you. That isn't them or their life that you see... -source, interview with Emanuel Lewis & his good friend Slick Rick

• One A & R said the path to success is to get up everyday, make a list of everything you have to do that day...(all your responsibilities...) and don't stop until it's all done. - source, interview with YoungBloodz Mgr. & V.P. of Jazzy Phe's Sho Nuff records

Did you know...>>we are always adding more about the Hip Hop Truth of life in Hip Hop & rap so check back!

Until then we leave you with, the moral of the story --> practice your tenacity, strong work ethic & willingness to do what you have to in the area of your current responsibilities now...Yup!

On July 16h President Obama addressed the NAACP for their 100th anniversary and boy did he say some things that our community needs to hear. He thanked freedom fighters and the NAACP for paving the way for him and he also issued a bit of a call to action. If nothing else it was definitely a call to addressing this thing called life & raising our children with the correct attitude.

 

The speech was excellent, Hip HopTruth encourages all to pay especially close attention to the last ten minutes of this speech. We also encourage everyone to use the first twenty minutes as inspiration to find the strength to apply some social responsibility. If our predecessors could find the individual strength to say no I won't ride the bus today even though it would be easier, no I won't stay home during the sit-in even though I'm afraid, no I won't be silent and do nothing while my community dies then certainly we can find the time to mentor, tutor or otherwise help young people who <b>by no fault of their own </b>were born at a disadvantage. We should also find the strength to sit down at the club when a song that disparages us is played, we should also find the strength not to purchase filth that disrespects our young girls and women. If we don't respect our women how can we respect others to? Find the strength and individual responsibility to see past the beat, he is correct we all have decisions to make, our personal decisions and actions are indeed important. 

 
 

Will the real stars please stand up?

So now we have Plaxico Burress...wide receiver for the NY Giants suspended and facing charges the latest in a rash of NFL players to receive suspension &amp; possible correctional facility time. What is the deal?

 

I mean O.K. - our.com/watch?v=QdH4NkKzbv4 ).

 

Where is the rhyme and reason for him and so many other NFL all stars to find hisself in a world of trouble insider scoop on Plaxico is that... <!--more-->this family hero has taken on a great deal in the way of looking out for siblings, wifey &amp; being an all around family leader in the wake of his mother's passing, getting to know papa, and finishing growing up in the NFL...but is that reason to risk a newly signed multi-million dollar contract, a strong career earned by hard work, tenacity, drive &amp; rare talent?? Is it so bad to say - "I've got grown man's bizness that doesn't involve me carrying a gun?? I've worked very hard to become something in life, practiced, studied, passed my SAT's and more. I've sacrificed a lot, skipped parties, skipped girl time, friend time, chill time, I was working when the other guy was chillin...and because of that "I'm into big thangs"...Is it really THAT BAD to just hire a body guard? Is it cool to lose your multi-million dollar contract because you were "representin"?? Representin doesn't have a health plan, no benefits, and no paycheck - just ask "Broke Vick". This post is not out of hate - it is out of heartbreak, because it truly is heartbreaking to watch young brother after young brother who has accomplished so much when they were originally given so little...throw it all away for the sake of what...the cool? (Ode to Lupe Fiasco, check it out: http://www.youtubewhen others are able to evade that trouble everyday? 

 

There are several fellas who are already cool for what they've accomplished in life...the hope of this writer is that Pac Man Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, Michael Vick formerly of the Atlanta Falcons, Chris Henry of the Cincinnati Bengals, Matt Jones of Jacksonville Jaguars...and so many others will tell their friends that when it comes to illicit, illegal activity - that they don't have time for this...they have grown man's business and millions to attend to...

 

I also hope that the brother who is on his path to greatness...perhaps not yet famous, successful and... ridiculously papered will tell his friends the same thing, that he doesn't have time for this...that he has grown man's business and eventually millions to attend to because the truth is - you do.

NEWBOS

<div class="image_block"><img src="http://hiphoptruth.com/media/blogs/Firstblog/Newbos.jpg" alt="" title="" width="200" height="200" /></div> Well it looked like we would finally get a bit of re-education going on in the hip hop community!

 

Thursday February 26th on CNBC Lee Hawkins profiled the true life aspects of being young black and a millionaire in America.

 

We are most impressed with Kirk Franklin's message about how our young rich actually have enough fortune among them to affect our communities - hopefully we will see more of our community embracing our ability to S.O.S. - to "Save Our Selves" and also hopefully it will not take a hurricane catastrophe to make it happen.

 

Unfortunately this profile did not "press" some of the more "pressing" topics affecting our culture when it came to interviews with the Cash Money crew leaders. The profile showed a lot of what we already know - that they have more bling in their mouth than most of their beloved New Orleans would need to upgrade an entire school, (over $500,000) the question that wasn't raised to Lil' Wayne and his cohorts is - "why don't we see them teaching more young people how to get out like they did?" 

 

This documentary does however introduce an exciting focus on how our "black overclass" chooses to live, the excitement for us at Hip Hop Truth is that future efforts might focus more on harnessing that status to teach our young people how to fish instead of just bragging to them about how much fish YOU have and how good YOU'RE eating.<!--more-->

 

More information at the link above and purchase information is below!

 

You can purchase this documentary where CNBC takes viewers inside the growing class of young, self-made black multimillionaires – mostly under 40 – who have built wealth and influence in the sports, entertainment, and media industries. The journey to the black overclass, black America's new financial elite, is often filled with vast opportunity, but even greater pressure to help family and community. In one-on-one interviews with the celebrities, called 'NEWBOs,' Lee Hawkins takes us inside the experience of high-profile athletes and entertainers, discussing the implications of their sudden wealth and fame and their transition from the underclass or working class to wealthy class in a matter of a few years.

 

Features interviews with NBA superstar LeBron James, Major League All-Star Torii Hunter, The Williams brothers of Cash Money Records, Dallas Cowboy star Terrell Owens, billionaire entrepreneur and NEWBO pioneer Bob Johnson, multiplatinum gospel star Kirk Franklin, and television network owner Wyclef Jean.

 

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=11aeadad-a766-4810-b617-8fb2eb139c76&amp;type=website&amp;embeds=true"></script>

Everyone is buzzing about the incident that took place between Chris Brown and his girlfriend during Oscar week.

 

Additionally rumors are swirling as to whether or not the two are back together. A hint may come from Brown's court appearance on March 5, 2009. Rihanna's lawyer, Donald Etra, shook hands and spoke with Chris Brown in the court room after Brown's appearance before Los Angeles County Judge Kristi Lousteau on felony assault &amp; criminal threat charges. During proceedings the judge asked Rihanna's lawyer if a no contact order was requested and the response was that Ms. Fenty (Rihanna) does not request a no contact order against Brown. Meaning that she is not asking the court to order him not to contact her.   Etra, Rihanna's lawyer stood near Brown and his lawyer, Mark Geragos, during the brief hearing. Rihanna was not in the courtroom.

 

Brown issued a statement a week after the incident saying that he was “sorry and saddened” about the incident. Should he "take a bow" as her music video tells a boyfriend who is "only sorry he got caught" to do? (youtube video link above) If the two get back together does that send a message to abusers? Additionally - since Rihanna &amp; Chris Brown are currently mini-icons to the Hip Hop &amp; R&amp;B community would it be proper to reflect upon how our music speaks about women of color as well as how our music says that women of color should be treated, what they are good for? Should we pause and reflect upon the need to check our self before purchasing music that belittles women of color because the best way to ask for more of the same is to make a purchase?

 

These are questions I hope you will ponder as you reflect on this situation and as you make future music choices.

 

For this situation Chris Brown requested and received a delayed arraignment, he also signed a presence waiver allowing his lawyer to represent him in the future, meaning that he will not have to physically appear in future proceedings until the official arraignment (April 6th) about what allegedly happened on February 8th between Chris Brown and a passenger only identified as "Robyn F." Rihanna's full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Excerpts from the he sworn statement by Los Angeles Police Detective DeShon Andrews detailing what allegedly happened that morning are below.

 

<b>According to the sworn statement:</b>

 

"Brown was driving a vehicle with Robyn F. as the front passenger on an unknown street in Los Angeles. Robyn F. picked up Brown's cellular phone and observed a three-page text message from a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with. A verbal argument ensued and Brown pulled the vehicle over on an unknown street, reached over Robyn F. with his right hand, opened the car door and attempted to force her out. Brown was unable to force Robyn F. out of the vehicle because she was wearing a seat belt. When he could not force her to exit, he took his right hand and shoved her head against the passenger window of the vehicle, causing an approximate one-inch raised circular contusion.

 

"Robyn F. turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand. He then drove away in the vehicle and continued to punch her in the face with his right hand while steering the vehicle with his left hand. The assault caused Robyn F.'s mouth to fill with blood and blood to splatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle. Brown looked at Robyn F. and stated, 'I'm going to beat the s--t out of you when we get home! You wait and see!' "

 

Robyn F. picked up her cellular phone and called her personal assistant -- [who] did not answer the phone but while her voicemail greeting was playing, Robyn F. pretended to talk to her and stated 'I'm on my way home. Make sure the cops are there when I get there.'

After Robyn F. faked the call, Brown looked at her and stated, 'You just did the stupidest thing ever! Now I'm really going to kill you!'

 

"Brown resumed punching Robyn F. and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face. She then bent over at the waist, placing her elbows and face near her lap in [an] attempt to protect her face and head from the barrage of punches being levied upon her by Brown. Brown continued to punch Robyn F. on her left arm and hand, causing her to suffer a contusion on her left triceps (sic) that was approximately two inches in diameter and numerous contusions on her left hand.

 

"Robyn F. then attempted to send a text message to her other personal assistant. Brown snatched the cellular telephone out of her hand and threw it out of the window onto an unknown street.

 

"Brown continued driving and Robyn F. observed his cellular telephone sitting in his lap. She picked up the cellular telephone with her left hand and before she could make a call he placed her in a head lock with his right hand and continued to drive the vehicle with his left hand.

 

"Brown pulled Robyn F. close to him and bit her on her left ear. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away. He stopped the vehicle ... and Robyn F. turned off the car, removed the key from the ignition and sat on it. Brown did not know what she did with the key and began punching her in the face and arms. He then placed her in a head lock positioning the front of her throat between his bicep and forearm. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F.'s left and right carotid arteries, causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness.

 

"She reached up with her left hand and began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her. While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around and placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placed her feet against Brown's body and began pushing him away. Brown continued to punch her on the legs and feet, causing several contusions.

 

"Robyn F. began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.'s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order."

 

Andrews closed his statement saying Brown sent her text message apologizing nine days later. The official affidavit, available below, includes detailed statement from the personal assistant mentioned above.

<a href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/05/brown.warrant.pdf">

See CNN's PDF of the official affidavit &amp; search warrant</a>

 

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    What we love...
What we love about Keyshia Cole is that in the show "Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is" on BET she is turning around to other young women and saying "I am not superhuman or very different from you. We perceive an overriding message to be Keyshia saying just as I had the strength &amp; favor of God to make something of myself - you can access that for yourself." Other artists push our young people to hustle their way to the top. The difference maker is that unlike...<!--more--> The difference maker is that unlike many of her male &amp; female counterparts in Hip Hop Soul Keyshia Cole is not afraid to say that some of the life choices she made were wrong, she is not afraid to say - "hey don't get caught up on some of the dumb stuff that I got caught up on" she is honest enough to say "hey we made mistakes, learn from them so you don't have to repeat them". On a recent episode Keyshia told a group of young woemen "Things that I go through are just like the things you guys go through and feeling like oh well if he don't like me, what can I do to make you like me but what can I do to like myself more before I got to like you". It would be so nice to see the fellas on the hip hop soul side of life say - "no I wouldn't recommend getting shot (big ups to Katt Williams for saying getting shot is not cool), prison was a horrible place that I am working hard to avoid going back to, don't slang if you don't have to (and honestly I'm glad I don't have to any more), having a wife is better than having ho's, being a business man (legally) is way more ballerific than being a snowman - here are some tips on how you can do it lil' bro". 

 

When the show first rolled out there was a lot of less than ladylike behavior exhibited by some of her family...since then we have watched Keyshia's sister Neffe write a book (My Happiness is My Sanity), prepare for her own children's education, and challenge others to get their goals in gear. We are not saying that Keyshia or the women in her family are perfect, in fact they are quite candid in showing that they are far from it. But we love that they continue to show that a different path is available...even if you are hood, even if your mom isn't quite around, even if you have a very unorthodox rough homelife...