Business Etiquette 101 : How to fire an employee

I'm back ladies and gents. It's been a very interesting 8 months, especially on the business tip. Anybody that knows me knows I was working for an AWESOME marketing company named Epic 1 Media. Now mind you, when I say awesome, I mean this in VERY loose terms. If you're Fed Ex or International Paper, or anybody of that kind of Fortune 500 stature, then he's more than likely the man you want on your project. As far as his philanthropic efforts go in the community however, things could be improved. For example, I was hired (for what position I have NO idea) officially in February this year. After signing on with him, I, in so many words, made shit happen. A team was built, an office was found, ideas were born right out of my head and immediately handed to the company, more or less. But there were a lot of empty promises as far as his involvement in the music community goes. I don't think they've actually thrown ANY events yet for local artists since their last effort (I have NO CLUE when their last attempt was). Now he did shoot some free expose-type videos for a few artists, but to this date I haven't actually seen a finished product. Anyone that goes to www.epic1music.com will see a beautiful site, that is in dire need of updating. Snoop came to Minglewood months ago, Eminem has been off drugs (apparently) for quite some time now. And there is a distinct absence of local hip hop and/or r&b artists. What's up with that, right?
This company has been known to give jobs to people who's talents well exceed their current job placement, which is EXTREMELY dope and all, but (knowing from experience) not a lot of people, if any, are actually getting paid a living wage, if any wage at all. I can tell you for a fact my rent was paid twice, and every once in awhile I would get some dough when I REALLY needed it (basically when I had NO food, NO lights, and was about to get kicked out of my apartment). Now I'll be the first to admit, all of this was my fault. My fault for trusting somebody that didn't even have me sign W-2's or any kind of government paperwork so there would be a TRAIL of me getting paid. To this day, I believe the only paperwork that says I even existed with that company is the one I signed at the beginning, binding me to 20% gross of what I brought into the company (almost like I was a.......partner or something) Regardless, this all ended when the office was moved. When I say ended, I mean all communication was cut off, no one responded to calls or emails, and I was basically left in the dark to wonder, "So.............do I have a job, or what?". After about 3 weeks I decided to say the hell with it. But all is well though, good things come to those who wait and learn. And BOY have I learned something. You CANNOT trust ANYBODY lol.

Be cool,

10th Post: Beefs

Beef has always been an integral part of human nature. Whether it be elements beefing with each other to create a reaction (i.e. fire) or one country beefing with another one because they're "hiding stuff", either way beef has its place. But in the music community, there is a proper way to go about beefing. And I think we have forgotten that. Case and point. Lil Kim vs Niki Minaj (or however you spell her name). I completely understanding beefing with someone who has obviously bitten your style but to do it so long after the fact..............it almost makes the beef null and void. If you want to start a conflict with someone to make yourself relevant again, just go in on em, don't try to bring up past reasons you HAD to beef with them. In all honesty, it makes your cry for attention that much more obvious (no offense to the Queen B, or to Ms. Minaj. Minage? Minaje?) Now I'm no "Teacher" or anything. but the way I look at it, if you want to stop someone from taking over your house, stop them at the door.

9th Post: Giving Up.

If I had met myself 6 years ago. I pr obably wouldn't have liked myself that much. Then again, what 22 year old dude wants to hang out with a 16 year old male in the first place (despite popular belief, there is a GIGANTIC maturity gap). But the main reason I wouldn't have really taken a liking to myself is because of not only my distaste for my city of Memphis, but because of the fact that I didn't see any potential here. I saw a city full of uneducated people who either sat around and hated each other, or learned enough to leave. But as we all know, with age comes wisdom. Though i've only been in Memphis 8-9 years now, I've seen it go through many phases, both musically and communally and i'm here to say, Memphis can do it. By "it", I mean Memphis can be just as commercially successful as any other southern, or for that matter, American, city.