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2 YEAR
ANNIVERSARY WRAP-UP
In just one year, we’ve
gone from being a local Central Florida magazine to a regional Southeastern
magazine. Whenever an entity sees growth, there’s bound to be some growing
pains. We claim to be “The Southern Voice of Hip-Hop Music.” Are we capable
of being a voice for an entire region? Absolutely. Are we there yet? No. All
good things take time, so bear with us. It’s frustrating because I know
there are a few talented people who would be a good addition to our staff,
but it’s hard to weed you out among all the bullshitters. Back when I was
trying to get on, I used to get pissed off when magazine editors wouldn’t
return my phone calls. Now that I’m in their position, I understand. It’s
not that I don’t want to give other people a chance, it’s that I just don’t
have time. If you’re reading this last year’s worth of issues and feel like
you could bring something to the table, and you’re doing it for the right
reasons (love, not money), email me:
jb@ozonemag.com
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May 2003: One
year ago, OZONE was only distributed in Orlando and Miami (we are now
distributed in more than 11 states). To introduce ourselves to the Miami
market and the rest of Florida, our first anniversary issue featured Miami’s
DJ Khaled and Orlando’s Dawgman on the cover. Inside, we interviewed thirty
of the most influential figures in Florida’s music business, with Clear
Channel’s Doc Wynter, WEDR’s program director Cedric Hollywood, and TJ’s
DJ’s owner TJ Chapman ranking at the top of the list.
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November 2003:
Jacki-O became the first female to grace OZONE’s cover for our sex edition.
Our interview subjects were either very uncomfortable (Murphy Lee, Smilez &
Southstar, Lil Flip, Chingy) or very open (Dirty, Grandaddy Souf, Elephant
Man, Field Mob). We somehow lost the tape of the most explicit interview:
Ludacris’ DJ Jaycee, so we had to improvise. This issue also featured
“Abebe: the cheap asshole,” and Noel’s controversial Lil Kim feature, which
prompted an angry call from Queen Bee Records. |
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June 2003:
Rated R talked a lot of shit about his rival Tampa Tony during his cover
interview, but we had to tone it down for management and their beef quickly
ended. This issue also featured then-unknown artists like Pitbull and Jacki-O
(who both are now signed to TVT), Attitude (who recently signed to
Timbaland’s Beat Club), and Akon (who’s debut album is about to be released
on SRC). Killer Mike put in the extra effort to drop some knowledge on Noel
and I during his interview in Daytona Beach at BET’s Spring Bling. |
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Dec 2003 / Jan
2004: David Banner handpicked his photo for the first cover of the New
Year, since our original selection made him look “too nice.” Inside, Banner,
Killer Mike, Pitbull, and Rico Wade all gave incredible interviews. Pitbull
summed up the Southern philosophy by telling New York labels: “Thank you for
overlooking us and teaching us how to grind and make our own relationships.
You put us in a position where we had to learn how to do it ourselves. Thank
you very much. I will laugh all my way to the bank.” |
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July 2003: Cash
Money lined up for this posse pic on the set of “Gangsta Girl” in South
Beach. Right before taking this picture, I’d learned via 2way that Pure
Pain’s artist Camoflauge had been shot and killed in Savannah. His labelmate,
Micnificent, paid tribute on the flip cover. |
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February 2004:
I saw snow for the first time in ten years while trekking up north for
Wyclef’s photo shoot, then basked in the Miami sun and patronized the local
ice cream truck while waiting for Anthony B’s photo shoot. Put them together
and you’ve got our February cover. I did a lil’ research for the classic
artist vs. CEO piece, “The Future of Slip-N-Slide,” and managed to piss off
a few more people, like a certain Orlando police officer who I captured on
film throwing Lil’ Scrappy off stage, and Choppa’s publicist. |
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August 2003:
Miami’s Humble Thugs graced the cover, and the 305 was buzzing about our
coverage of the Big Lip Bandit (99 Jamz radio personality) vs. Funkmaster
Olly (underground club DJ) fistfight (fueled by Detre faxing advance copies
of the article to all Miami media outlets). I interviewed Juelz Santana
during a memorable week in NYC, while Noel and Rayfield caught up with
Chingy and Mr. Vegas in Orlando. An anonymous groupie dropped off an
embarrassing picture of Peedi Crakk at our Miami office. |
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March 2004: The
original cover photo of Question and his crew looked a little too much like
Big Wil’s March 2003 cover (rest in peace), so he went for the Sandman look
instead. For me, the highlight of this issue was sitting down with Lil’ Jon
to find out what makes him tick. I even got a free dinner out of the
interview (journalism doesn’t pay well but it does have its perks). Bad Boy
hooked me up with a Mario Winans interview in NYC, and I caught up with a
heated Mr. Vegas after a run-in with Pitbull in Orlando. |
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September 2003:
September is always a rough month, but despite a few setbacks we made it
through. Raandu came through in the clutch with a hot cover picture of
Murphy Lee, while T.I. and David Banner told me the meaning of “Rubber Band
Man.” Our first “Patiently Waiting” edition was on point, with features on
Lil Scrappy & Trillville; many artists who are about to drop major releases
(Pitbull, Jacki-O, Akon, Duece Poppi, Grandaddy Souf); and others who still
deserve a deal (Kamikaze, P.M., Smoke D, and more). |
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April 2004:
First, I drove through an hour of swamplands west of Palm Beach to catch up
with D.E.C.A. Records producer Papa Duck for the cover story. Our valuable
correspondent Jessica Koslow came through with Young Buck, I-20, and Lil’
Flip interviews. I chased down a few industry execs in NYC, finally got a
coherent interview out of the Ying Yang Twins during a photo assignment for
VIBE in Birmingham, AL, and came back home to Orlando to let Sonny Chulo
reflect on the past year since his mentor Big Wil’s death. |
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October 2003:
The second “Patiently Waiting” featured two talented Floridians: Suave
Smooth and White Dawg. Other notables included Bohagon, Rick Ross, Tom G,
Collard Greens, and Saigon. Despite a bad experience in Puerto Rico, I bit
my tongue for once in my 2¢. |
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May 2004: Our
second annual anniversary edition is still a work in progress. Hit us up on
the email (feedback@ozonemag.com) and let us know what you like and don’t
like. Constructive criticism please, not hate! Also, you can subscribe for
the next year at ozonemag.com for $11. |
