Friday, July 6, 2012

"Down With Brown:" A Response To Elevated Scott

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:") - Bob Marley
Actually, that's not how my morning started. I woke up to a tweet, though not of the bird-type, from @Elv8scott, the founder of Official Global Attack Mixtape Series. It's the morning after my deadline for "Grammy Bound With You" and I'm feeling a little bittersweet already. Though I didn't reach my goal of $65,000, I did receive over $2,400 in donations through the site and even more in cash/ check donations. I woke up feeling grateful and anxious to take the next steps towards my dream.
Before I even got up to brush my teeth, I looked at my phone and found the following tweet from "Elevated Scott,"

 You do realize average record label spends about 250,000 dollars behind a record to push for a Grammy. 
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It was a low blow to receive as the first thing to look at the day after making some great strides towards my dream. I sat there for a moment, wiping the sleep from my eye, thinking of the best way to respond...or if I should respond at all. For the sake of time, I'll leave out the commentary for now and just re-trace the conversation as it took place:

 Thanks for the info. I don't makes wishes anymore...I just make it happen. Wishful thinking is just the planting of a seed.
 Hide conversation
10:56 AM - 6 Jul 12 via Twitter for BlackBerry® · Details
2h
 HAHAHAHAHAHAAH YOU HAVE ALL THE RIGHT ANSWERS DONT YOU?
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    2h
     I don't have all the right answers, but I'm willing to make mistakes till I get to them.
    Expand
    2h
     hahahah

     HAHAHAHAHAHAAH YOU HAVE ALL THE RIGHT ANSWERS DONT YOU?


     I don't have all the right answers, but I'm willing to make mistakes till I get to them.


     hahahah

    And I guess he must have deleted the conversation since I can't pull it up on twitter, but luckily I took a screen shot of the conversation so I have it documented:


    @ELv8scott: @KFHox well ur gonna be stuck in that box until u surround yourself w the right ppl and not ppl just attempting to go through the motions


    4h
     Again, thanks for the info. I agree, but understand I'm not "stuck" around anyone. I choose the people I surround myself with.
     View conversation


     Again, thanks for the info. I agree, but understand I'm not "stuck" around anyone. I choose the people I surround myself with.


    @ELv8scott: DOWN WIT BROWN ALL DAY SE HOW FAR THOSE PPL GET YOU*
    (*the spelling errors are his, copied verbatim from his tweet)
    I'm not a woman who's easily taken out of character, but this last tweet pushed me over the edge. As Kanye once notably said, "Racism's still alive, they just be concealin' it." And by deleting his tweets, this is @ELv8scott's way of concealing his BLATANT racism. 
    As an independent, up-and-coming artist, I understand that my response to this does not come without repercussions, but I know who I am, what I represent, WHO I represent, and what I want to do with my platform within the music industry. For this reason, I am COMPELLED to respond to these tweets and spread the word about @ELv8scott's position on "Brown People," as he would refer to them. 
    Truth be told. this is NOT my first interaction with him, that has echoed these RACIST undertones. It started back in April after I met him and his GIRLFRIEND at an event he invited me to in the city. I attended, along with the director of my video, Rodolfo Duran and his assistant, Sha-la Hollis, of DoneRightDigital.com, very talented young men making strides themselves within the production side of the entertainment industry. Shortly after meeting him in person for the first time, along with his girlfriend, I received the following correspondence via Facebook:



      • I'm in OD grind mode, but definitely keep me posted. Would love to link up and talk shop. As I told you before, I'm always up to support your movement. I stand behind your grind and your dedication to help artists on their path. You'll surely be blessed by all that you're doing.
      • yea im talking more personal than biz
      • but either or would be great 
      • To be honest, I'm 100% business at this point. The task at hand allows for nothing less, but I'm flattered and I'm definitely down to help however I can.
      • no doubt



    It seemed like it was no big deal and that he respected the fact that I'm working day and night to make things happen for myself. I didn't bother to ask about his girlfriend that he introduced me to at this his event, www.mixtapeseries.com Launch Party.
    A short while later, I started receiving tweets (PUBLIC tweets, not DM's) that began to demonstrate his feelings about me being "Down With Brown:"

    I have figured it out.  will not entertain a date cause shes only dates black dudes? lol jk
    Expand


     I don't base relationships on color. I believe in one race...the  race. I base relationships on character and chemistry.
    Expand


     hahaha no doubt
     View conversation


    26 Jun
     I don't joke about race. There's too much hate in the world. I refuse to make a joke about it. I'm not just a singer. 
     View conversation






     You, of all people, should understand the great responsibility that being in a position of power & having a platform entails.
     Hide conversation
    4:52 PM - 26 Jun 12 via Twitter for BlackBerry® · Details


     So i guess that answered that question pretty clear...
     View conversation
      26 Jun
       you missed the point.
       View conversation
      I had originally brushed off this past correspondence as I figured it was attributed to a bruised male ego. I let it go in hopes that it was nothing more than that, but even as I received those tweets, I could feel myself growing tense and uncomfortable about the correspondence between us. I figured, if anything, the tweets were public so if anyone questioned where I stood, the proof was right there in plain sight. But now today, as I re-trace our conversations and look for the documentation, I realize that he second-guessed his words...words that he PUBLICLY tweeted to all 57,218 of his Twitter followers...that have since been deleted.
      Understand the great significance of his stance on RACE within his position in the music industry. He is the FOUNDER of Global Attack Mix Tapes. When you think about the irony of his stance on race in dichotomy with his business in music, it's ASTOUNDING. The same MAJORITY of people who are featured ON his mixtapes and download/ purchase his products are the same demographic that he is putting down in his tweets to me! 
      I learned something important from the legendary HIV/ AIDS activist, Maria Davis ("Cant' Be Silenced"), who re-affirms my notion that as an artist (and any person with any kind of notoriety or celebrity for that matter), has an OPPORTUNITY and RESPONSIBILITY to say something...something important, something positive. As up-and-coming leaders in the music industry, it's our BLESSING to be in a position to have a platform.  Today, I'm using my platform to say that RACISM is WRONG...it is not and will not be tolerated by me or anyone that's part of my movement. I believe that we can all do much more together than we can on our own and that creating divisions in people only brings us further apart. One of the main reasons I want to make it in music industry so badly and work towards it relentlessly everyday is because I recognize the opportunity that music creates. I want to do the most amount of good with my time here on earth and music is my vehicle to do that. I want to UNIFY people with music and music is the only thing in the world that truly has that capability like nothing else really does.  So when someone steps to me about being "Down With Brown," I MUST respond in like by saying that I'm down with EVERYONE regardless of race, creed, age, income...whatever...we are BORN this way and I am unapologetic about the color of my skin or anyone else's. At the end of the day, we all breathe the same air, walk the same earth, and no one makes it out alive. I walk by faith everyday as I fight to make a name for myself and my music and I refuse to be silenced about the people who support me, love me, encourage me, and help me get to the place where they believe I belong, which is all the way at the top in the music industry. My dream is no longer about me anymore...I owe it to every single person that has joined me on my journey...and can see where those people get me. *kfh ox*
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    7 comments:

    1. Angel RodriguezJuly 6, 2012 at 6:03 PM

      Interesting, but not surprising. He is using manipulative tactics to attempt and weaken you. I'm glad you didn't fold and maintained your position. And if you are down with brown, who cares. You do you.

      I agree that because we are up and coming artist, trying to gain visibility, fans, and opportunities, we have to be careful what we say, but I'm sure you've noticed, I don't hold my tongue for anyone. If I feel it, it's real, I say it.

      These past couple of days a few people unfriended me on facebook because I took issue with their hateful statements, images of flag burning, and whiny attitudes about the "white man" holding them back. Own your actions, man up and do you.

      Always be true to yourself.

      ReplyDelete
    2. Bomb Baby UnlimitedJuly 7, 2012 at 1:37 AM

      i was disturbed and annoyed by reading that. one of the things i discovered in being not only a hip hop artist but and independent artist is how global and universal the power of music is. I have gone to concerts and seen many people of many ethnicities show what makes what we do amazing. even on my album, the majority of the production is done by 2 white kids from germany, but if u ask me its done by 2 incredible up and coming producers. im not a fan of racism at all. In house, discrimination, prejudice or any other form or variation of it. we are in the 21st century. get with the times for Christ sake. You handled the like a true professional please dont let the actions of this idiot disturb, inconvienence or discomfort you. You got all types of people who love you regardless of race color or creed. His cry for attention is weak and if he thinks trying to break you down with bs like that is supposed to down you than he is a true definition of a coward.

      ReplyDelete
    3. William FeltonJuly 9, 2012 at 11:57 AM

      I've had a few words exchanged with Elevated Scott and he is a total bigot and Racist im going thru my emails and old messages where he called me the N word a few times (and not in a chummy i like you kind of way) even after i asked him to stop contacting me.And i have no idea how he can even be apart of the Hip Hop culture.He clearly is not "Down With Brown" and "Those People" that he refers to keep his little business a float.I would so love for word to get around about his shady business practices and his BLATANT RACISM.

      ReplyDelete
    4. AnonymousAugust 23, 2015 at 7:27 PM

      Scott is a low life check this out...
      http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/urban-arts-showcase/internet/urban-arts-showcase-elevated-scott-x101jamz-scott-mcdowell-global-attack-mixtapes-This-1249864

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2015 at 3:19 PM

        Yes he is he stole over $1000.00 and he stole my laptop and told me that it was getting upgraded. Then when I confronted him he blocked me on every social media page that he had. DON"T TRUST THIS MAN!!!!

        Delete
    5. UnknownJuly 22, 2017 at 3:15 PM

      This man is disgusting. I have several records to prove it as well. I'm from Colorado and apparently that makes me a flaky hippy bitch

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. UnknownJuly 22, 2017 at 3:16 PM

        Figured as much. You Colorado people are something else. I don't think we will allow you to be apart of our first Friday event either. I see why you are at spectra art space. Perfect fit for your style. Thanks for wasting my time and energy! Typical hippy bitch

        --
        Scott Edward
        Founder: Lifestyle Entertainment Solutions, LLC
        Press: https://goo.gl/cn1Xk7
        Direct: 646-801-3143
        Cell: 718-313-8619
        Twitter/Instagram @ELv8Scott


        My apologies I can't seem to get pictures to post or I would share far more

        Delete

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