JB's 2 CENTS

I’ve won a few awards on behalf of OZONE Magazine over the last few years. Although I appreciate the recognition, I generally don’t get too excited about them because if you spend too much time patting yourself on the back, you lose focus.

This month, OZONE won Urban Magazine of the Year at the Southern Entertainment Awards in Nashville. I was surprised, honestly. I felt like it was significant for a few reasons. One, Nashville isn’t one of our strong markets at all. In fact, I’ve only been there once for a Young Buck video shoot. Two, the winners were selected through online voting, and I didn’t do one of those “hey-everybody-vote-for-me” email blasts because I think those are corny. Lastly, other nominees included Murder Dog, XXL a.k.a. The Interscope Magazine, Tha Hole, and a few others.

Anyway, I got up on stage to get the award and saw probably 500 people looking at me and mumbled something stupid and got off the stage, fast. So yes, I admit it: I am not fearless. I’m afraid of speaking in public. The only thing that kept me from getting an Associates degree during the two years I went to college was the public speaking prerequisite, because I refused to take the class. All Eyez on Me, no thank you. I’d rather hide behind a computer screen and type what I’m really thinking, which is why I’ve appointed an official spokesman for future award shows (see photo at left). If I wasn’t so damn nervous, I probably would have said this:

When people find out that I’m the owner/editor of OZONE, they always get the shocked what-could-a-white-girl-possibly-know-about-this-shit look on their face, and then they ask, “How did you start the magazine?” Well, I used to look at the photos in The Source and VIBE and XXL (back when their graphics were really hideous) and I’d think, I could do that. I wanted to be a photographer for a major magazine, but I didn’t know how to get started. I used to call XXL and always get their voicemail (much like OZONE’s offices today, so now I understand) and leave messages about freelancing. Never got a call back. Met the editor once, emailed him a few times, no reply. Boogie at The Source was the first one to give me a chance as a freelance photographer and he gave me the info of the person responsible for hiring employees at The Source. I spent a lot of time putting together a portfolio and resume and sent it to her, and called probably at least thirty times and left messages with her assistant and never got a call back.

In retrospect, I’m glad no one called back, because it forced me to learn how to do it myself. Now, I wouldn’t even want to work for any other magazine. That’s one of the great things about the South - we had to learn how to do it ourselves. No disrespect to anyone from New York, but honestly, we don’t need you. Just look around the room. In the South we’ve got our own shit. (applause)

There she goes again with more of that South vs. NYC bullshit in her editorial. Well, sorry, but it’s true. Shouts out to VIBE Magazine, though, for sending me a lot of freelance work. I also received the Hustler of the Year Award at TJ’s DJ’s pool meeting, shouts out to BloodRaw for handling the acceptance speech. :)

Anyone who’s read my editorials consistently knows that I don’t like too many publicists. Well, there’s one in particular who’s had a Def Jam Vendetta against me from day one, apparently because of her own job insecurity. Relax, I think your position is secure now that you’re sucking the president of the label and fucking the head of promotions. I guess the “groupie confessions” article hit a little too close to home, huh? I really don’t care what you do in your personal time, but if you want to keep cockblocking my checks you should be more careful who you confide in.

Finally, to those of you aspiring rappers who come up to me in the club trying to spit a rhyme in my ear or get your crew together for a picture, I’m begging you: please, please chew some gum or pop a tic-tac or mint first. I’m not speaking to one individual, I’m speaking to a whole bunch of you with stank breath who ran up in my face this month trying to get in the mag!

- Julia Beverly, jb@ozonemag.com