PUBLISHER'S LETTER

BRIEF NEWS...
I didn’t get to see it myself, but I heard that Ludacris responded to Thrill da Playa’s diss during a freestyle session on BET.

Now that 112 has departed from Bad Boy, P. Diddy is already auditioning for a replacement, and an Orlando-based R&B group is being considered.

Street Dwellaz tells me that Smilez & Southstar’s album sold out in Orlando music stores when it dropped on July 23rd. Their faces are all over Orlando - posters at Caribbean Beach, the huge banner at Virgin Megastore, the side of a Lynx bus, the banner by All Pro. This is important for Orlando’s music scene, so go cop the album if you haven’t already.

G, FORGET SOMETHING?
A word of advice to the nerd on the street, Orlando’s most infamous bootlegger – if you’re selling child porn, try not to leave it in a rental RV. MTV News reported, “Chicago police returned four alleged R. Kelly sex tapes to Orange County, Florida, after reviewing the material and deciding it had no bearing on current child pornography charges against the singer. Orange County police said that they recovered the tapes from Giant Recreation World, a company just outside Orlando that rents RVs which had discovered the tapes in one of its rentals in the week after Kelly’s arrest...Orange County authorities didn’t try to track down the individuals who left the tapes behind, since it would be difficult to charge them with possession.”

SHOUTOUTS
To Gary, for the funniest phone call I’ve ever heard in my life (and to my #1 Hater for making that call possible). To Garfield for the (very grimey) “News Flash,” which I won’t reveal until the time is right (no use kicking a dead dog). To the 102 Jamz Wakeup Posse, Stace and Break-A-Dawn, for having me on their show, and Thrill da Playa, Jay Love, Tony C, Reconn, Dominique, and everybody else at 102. To Boo Rosario, for making one of my dreams come true. To June (Da Link) and to Illustrate (thanks for lunch). To Epiphany, Charles Asner, Men’s Closet, Shamee’s, Wildside, Nu-Ridians, and Mannequin for beefin’ up my wardrobe this month. Then, there’s the usual suspects: Chino, Mercedes, Noel, Big Earl, Cynthia, and everybody who contributes to the mag; Copafeel, Butta Smoove (that was the best name you could come up with?), Nevahdaless, and everybody at Raw 94; Rashad, Pat, & Willie at Front-Line; Nu-Ridians; Tropik & Logic; Greg G; Dawgman and the Clientell family.

Promoters, don’t get mad, but I have to say that the club I was really feelin’ this month was Caribbean Beach Club. On Friday nights, everybody knows the grown folks are at Roxy and the Latinos are at Palladium, but for me personally, when I’m not working, I prefer to dress down and just chill and listen to some good music, and Caribbean is the perfect spot for that.

What’s up with the Orlando Weekly giving the “Best Underground Radio Award” to WPRK Rollins College? Um, are they underground? I’m confused. I think they need a columnist who’s a little more in touch with the streets (hint, hint).

ELEVATORS
“True, I got more fans than the average man / But not enough loot to last me / Til the end of the week / I live by the beat / Like you live check to check / If you don’t move your feet, than I don’t eat / So we like neck to neck.” I couldn’t have said it better than Outkast did, but basically, I’ve realized that although being a mini-celebrity is flattering, it’s also frightening. I’m human, just like you. You don’t have to kiss my ass to get featured in the magazine, just be real. If I like you and/or your music, your time will come.
- Julia Beverly

Gary (NY or ATL?) & Garfield, the Entertainers	Break-A-Dawn & Stace of 102 Jamz Wakeup Posse