Kanye speaks to Access Hollywood about his Runaway film, the hiatus, award shows and more. No matter how many times he explains he was just a normal person with too much passion and bad timing, people will believe what they want. He explains how the media portrayed him to be a monster. I disagree. I remember being in New York, not far away from the VMA’s when I logged onto my social networks to see the name Kanye followed by “douchebag”, “asshole”, “jerk”, “dumbass”, “fuck you”, “die” and “hate” among other words. Those comments, made seconds after the incident were not because of the media’s influence at all. This was the general public. The casual fan. The everyday working class individual that without any tug from press commentary used statements that would have been similar to what one would hear directed at serial killers or child pedophiles. I think Kanye has it wrong when he say’s the media had it in for him. They were just doing what they always do. Reporting. It was the unforgiving, self-righteous public that forced him to move across the globe. As a huge Yeezy fan I would love to see his new album and this film break down walls. Not just aimed at him but in culture as whole. But at the end of the day this is America. The double standard capital of the world.
I had a great time meeting with the online entertainment and culture blog site Blind Specs. Make sure to follow em here: Blind Specs + @BlindSpecs
VISUAL MODALITY: Xavier DJ X Moreno from BlindSpecs on Vimeo.
After making it to the TOP 5 for the MTV search for the first TJ CBS Atlanta Morning News Show called me back for a follow up segment. Here’s my edit of the interview! You can watch the studio version here:
CBS Atlanta Video (Click the “Better Mornings” Tab and click the “MTV Twitter Jockey” video)
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Challenge 5 | I Want My MTV
Open for 3 days ‐ from 12:00am (EST) July 18 2010 to 12:00pm (noon EST) July 20, 2010.
Overview: The MTV TJ needs to have a welcoming yet commanding presence. They must also have respected knowledge of the MTV world if they hope to gain the confidence of the MTV audience. With this challenge, we will see how the TJ candidates report on specific MTV‐centric assignments and how they manage MTV celebrities.
Social: Interview a celebrity selected by MTV for 10 minutes and report on the interview.
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MTV TJ challenge 5 entailed each of us interviewing a celebrity of MTV’s choosing. The catch? We would only be informed of who it would be 2 hours prior to the interview. I was ecstatic when I heard I would be interviewing DJ Khaled. If you read my MTV TJ challenge # 3 personal response I listed the late, great, Big Pun’s career as a monumental moment for me. Pun was a part of a group called the Terror Squad in which DJ Khaled was a member of for many years. Khaled shared with me how he learned what hard work and dedication was from Big Pun. He was even in the studio when Pun recorded his monster smash hit, “Still Not a Player”.
When I prompted my twitter followers to send me questions for DJ Khaled, the majority of my responses were comedic statements paying homage to his popular catch phrases “I’m so Hood”, “We the Best”, and “All I do is Win”. Little does the general public realize that though he’s widely known for shouting such slogans, Khaled also doubles as an award winning music producer and President of Def Jam South. Khaled commented, “Im excited to see my brand make as big of an impact as it has but my ultimate goal is to be a music industry mogul. I do not want to be just limited to hip hop.” Khaled frequently refers himself to the Berry Gordy of Hip Hop. Being a Motown fan myself I asked Khaled what some of his favorite artist were from that era. He credits Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin at the top of his list.
Khaled, following the likes of Uncle Luke and 2 Live Crew, has been influential in bringing the national spotlight to Miami over recent years. In asking how Lebron James move to Miami will impact the entertainment scene, Khaled stated “Miami has always had a place in the industry. I’m anxious to see how Lebron’s move here will garner even more attention to the great talent that’s here”
Coming from New York, I grew up listening to Funkmaster Flex’s cd’s such as “The Tunnel”. I would see the likes of Cash Money, Dr Dre, and Nas all on one disc. I asked Khaled if he feels obligated to carry the torch in unifying the hip hop world. “I love to make great music and put artist together that people wouldn’t expect. I get in the studio and feel the vibe that comes from a track. I’m just a fan of music”
If you look at titles of DJ Khaled’s albums you’ll see a recurring theme of empowerment. (Listeenn, We the Best, We Global, and Victory) He said he looks to always share a message within his music. Even within the cd titles alone he hopes to be able to motivate and inspire others.
Khaled expressed how MTV has played a major role in his career. From labeling him one of the next acts to blow a few years ago to the constant music video rotation he was grateful for the impact MTV has had in launching his career. Overall I left the short interview realizing that DJ Khaled was more than just a music producer or radio dj but a pop culture icon that looks to shape the course of entertainment industry. The name of his albums are truly a foreshadowing of the impact he looks to make around the world for years to come.
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
