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MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER!

I love radio. I think anyone who has ever met me would tell you as much. I grew up being blessed enough to live out my dreams at a very early age. I've seen what this business can do to a person and in most cases, it isn't pretty. On the other hand, everyone has seen what "Business" has done to this craft (and if you don't think it's a craft, stop reading here) and we stand back and allow it to contine.

I remember how much I wanted to be one of the "GREATS". You know, Tom Joyner, Frankie Crocker, Brian Carter, Frank Ski, Golden Boy (I'm sure you have your own list so let's not get sidetracked on who's better than whom) and the rest. I would listen to what they said and how they said it. What made them great was not only their creativity and personalities, but their "freedom" to be themselves.

Freedom is power, and like the old Spider-Man addage goes, with great power comes great responsibility. As I hear from different up and coming 'announcers' and 'personalities' (I see you Bobby Holiday), many of them express to me how they feel that their "style" is being "watered down" or "whitewashed". I usually ask them if they can get a complete thought across in under 20 seconds. Most announcers act as if I asked them if they could pilot the space shuttle! After they wipe the stupid look off of their faces, I tell them that if I was their PD, I wouldn't give them much free reign either.

Now there are personalities who are truly being stifled or are currently uncoached by people who share an unfortunate trait: Ignorance. I call anyone who puts the same cookie-cutter "YEAH YEAH IT'S YO BOY" happy-go-lucky-ignorant-assed-flavor-flav-shortbus-esqe jocks on the majority of their stations IGNORANT! When people don't understand something, they try to conquer it. They enslave it. They change it to what they think it should be. And we as the founders and original caretakers of our culture should take a stand, but instead we fall back and accept the status quo. If I'm wrong, then explain how "Soulja Boy ", "Get Silly " and songs of that kind became the gold standard. Explain why we see so many jocks with grills in their mouths instead of newspapers in their hands.

Damn it where is Marvin when you need him?!?!? This S#!T makes me wanna holler!!!

Some of us wonder why Urban radio is sufferring and why we don't make the same kind of money as our counterparts in other formats. They say one bad apple spoils the bunch. Unfortunately, we have an orchard of bad apples putting a sour taste in the Urban Radio Cider. Is that extreme? Nope. Quick, name 20 high quality personalities in 30 seconds who can (and regularly do):

1. Speak English
2. Do showprep (not just watch 106 and park)
3. Take an active role in their community
4. Read a book for pleasure/personal growth and development
5. Know their value (based on the dues they've paid)

Let's do more and expect more from ourselves

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