A look back: An open letter to Big Tigger (WJLB)
Frustration in Detroit over commercial radio isn’t new. A few years back the Detroit Hip Hop Coalition took WJLB to task over the same issues that exist today. A boycott campaign was launched and supported by Chuck D of Public Enemy.
An Open Letter to Big Tigger
Dear Big Tigger:
On behalf of the Detroit Hip Hop Coalition (DHHC) and the entire Michigan Hip Hop Community, we would like to welcome you to the Metro Detroit area. As both a television and radio DJ/personality, you are well known in the Global Rap/Hip Hop community. Based on your previous actions and contributions to Hip Hop Culture, it is readily apparent that you possess a love for both Hip Hop Culture and Rap music. Your reputation precedes you as a person who will stand up for the Artists and Participants in Hip-Hop Culture.
We are quite sure that you’ve been made aware of the tensions between your new employer (jlb) and many members of the Michigan Hip Hop community. The differences have now been well documented. For the past several years, your new employer has been very successful in the dual tasks of ignoring, snubbing, or refusing to give airplay to all but a few Detroit or Michigan based independent Artists (regardless of requests) and offering nominal support to the metro Detroit Hip Hop community that make up its listening audience.
This situation has become even more exasperating in recent years, chiefly, because Det/Mich. artists have generated national and international acclaim, (Slum Village, Royce 5′9, SUN, Binary Star, Esham, Paradime, Teamstaz, Natas, Proof, D12, etc.) yet due to the lack of commercial airplay, they remain relatively unknown in their own city.
Tigger, We pose a simple question to you;
“How can a self proclaimed “urban music” station broadcast out of Detroit (Motown) yet ignore ’significant’ Detroit artists??”
We don’t Understand that one either.
The DHHC adopted a firm stance against this anti-independent Det/Mich Artist platform and organized several successful protests/events and a continuing boycott of your new home. Our efforts garnered the attention of the national and international Hip Hop Community and Press.
With endorsements ranging from such Hip Hop notables and luminaries like Chuck D, Afrika Bambatta, Davey D, Hip Hop Journalist/Author Kevin Powell along with pioneering Hip Hop organizations like The Zulu Nation and RockSteady Crew, among others, the DHHC went to work (pro-actively) organizing and building bridges throughout the local Hip Hop community and beyond.
At the same time, we adopted the arduous task of attempting to organize the estimated 4,000 Hip Hop artists/groups in the Metro Detroit area alone. Because of the enormous anxiety among the artist community due to ‘repercussions from the boycott, This organizing was being done in what could best be described as a ‘chilly climate’ due to forces in the ‘urban radio’ community.
DHHC members have been mischaracterized, mislabeled, and maligned by these same forces in the press and on the airwaves. We have been classified as “Frustrated Artists,” “Mad Rappers and Producers” etc.
One former (jlb) DJ went as far to say on the morning of our initial protest that the reason the station did not play Detroit Rappers was because “Detroit Rappers had no talent!”
We found this to be an ‘interesting response’ for a variety of reasons a few of which we will list:
-DHHC members participate in live Hip Hop venues in the metro Detroit area 5-7 nights a week It was very rare that we saw any (jlb)employees or any (jlb) promotional units at any of these venues.
-Another reason stems from the Jan. 2001 iissue of Source magazine, a publication widely regarded as the ‘bible of Hip Hop culture’. In this issue four of their top prospects for 2001 (Slum Village, E-Dub, D12, Royce 5′9 ) were from Detroit, however at that time, none of these artists/groups received any significant airplay on (jlb)
We pose another question:
“If jlb is “where Hip Hop lives in Detroit,” but they have “limited contact” with Detroit’s Hip Hop community, and are apparently “out of touch” with their own homegrown talent, don’t they really serve as the place where “Hip-Pop” or Corporate-Hop” lives?”
It appears that way to us.
Leading Up to Now: Earlier, in the letter, we mentioned that our actions were successful, and to a large degree they were. We can measure that by looking at the counter-steps your employer has taken since the initial protests. These moves are widely seen as counter-measures to the actions taken by the DHHC and serve as flimsy veils to cover the fact that Det/Mich/Independent Artists are still largely ignored by their home station. To this day, your station refuses to give credit to the DHHC, but the ‘artists and community’ know the true story.
First, (jlb) ignored our efforts, but once the ‘press begin to run with the story’, they (jlb) denied it, feigning ignorance to the fact that they played the same twelve (12) songs all day, every day. They promptly brought up their charitable work (Toys for Tots, Coats for Kids etc.) as subterfuge.
While we salute their charitable efforts, we observed that the primary job for a radio station (particularly one that bills themselves as ‘the voice of the community) would be to
a. address community issues and
b. give airplay to recognized, talented, community artists.
Frankly, at the time, we had very little of the former occuring and nothing of the latter.
Next: (jlb) repeatedly ignored DHHC representatives (which acts as a conduit for over 4,000 Metro Detroit artists) efforts to earnestly sit down and meet with them and gave ‘token’ spins to selected artists, effectively attempting to pit them (and their sponsors) against our burgeoning movement. Flatly, this did not work. We are proud of each and every Det/Mich/Independent artist/group and DJ that receives commercial airplay (even on jlb) and we support them every step of the way.
Currently: St. Andrews Hall (Fri. nights) has served as the epicenter for the Detroit Hip Hop Scene now for the last 8-10 years. It has served as the site for many independent concerts, Open Mikes, MC Battles, B-Boy/Girl Jams and Festivals.
Over the summer of 2001, a ‘disingenuous alliance’ between St. Andrew’s primary booking agent and your station (now both owned by ClearChannel Communications) emerged with what to some has amounted to a ‘hostile takeover’ of the (Fri.) Hip Hop night and a blatant, shameless attempt to appear that (jlb) has/had any interest in Det/Mich Hip Hop culture.
One of the few good things that has emerged from this last occurence is that ’some’Det./Mich Rap artists get to perform in front of larger audiences, however we question if this will translate into the nurturing, support, and more importantly the AIRPLAY/ ROTATION our artists need to survive and prosper. We would be pleasantly surprised if this was the result.
Who are we: Tigger, we are a growing multi-cultural alliance composed of all segments of Michigan’s Hip Hop Community standing alongside prominent members of the Global Hip Hop Community. We have emerged as a direct result of being shut out on our own airwaves of a culture we played a viable role in creating.
We are a Pro-Artist, Pro-Active, and Pro Hip-Hop Culture based organization. We are not frustrated artists (not all of us anyway).
We are Promoters, Lawyers, Journalists, B-Boys/Girls, Graphic Designers, Husbands, Brothers, Parents, Sisters, Wives, Elders, Scholars, Teachers, Factory workers, Union Members, Voters, Activists, Tax Payers, and Music lovers.
We love our city/state and our proud of its long tradition of independent artists, thinkers, and record labels. This is a labor of love for the vast majority of us, not just money. Tigger, I’m sure you can understand and appreciate that sentiment.
What do we want: We want (jlb) to be all it can be by taking an honest, active interest in the “Hip Hop community.” We want the same excitement they demonstrate as they ‘work’ so enthusiastically for their corporate sponsors.
We want the station to stand (at least in part) for what it once did, in the words of (jlb’s) former president. “Community, Community, Community!”
Our initial protest date centered around the 40 year anniversary (1961) when (jlb) first added Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (Shop Around), to the playlist/rotation, thus becoming one of Motown’s early hits. It’s a tragedy that our modern day Berry Gordy’s are escorted out of your station before they even get a chance.
WE REACH OUT TO YOU TIGGER, AS A HIP HOP AMBASSADOR FROM A ‘NEUTRAL’ SITUATION, WITH THE RESPECT OF BOTH SIDES.
HELP END YOUR STATION’S ARROGANT DENIAL AND REFUSAL TO WORK WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE (DHHC) WHO REPRESENT MICHIGAN’S HIP HOP COMMUNITY. HELP REPLENISH THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO LEARN ABOUT THE PROTEST AND TURN OFF (jlb) EVERYDAY.
YOU CAN BRING A FRESH OUTLOOK/PERSPECTIVE TO A STATION THAT SUFFERS FROM “THE MOST TARNISHED REPUTATION” IN THE HIP HOP WORLD.
THE EYES OF THE HIP HOP NATION ARE UPON YOU. CONTACT US.
TO (jlb):
We have relaxed our efforts somewhat this summer in anticipation of a change in programming, but do not believe for one second that the lull has weakened our resolve.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT:
With each promise, your management makes to meet with us, and then promptly breaks it, we grow stronger. (at this date, we have about 15 broken promises and counting)
For each young artist/group that pours their blood, sweat, and tears into recording a demo or professional CD and is rejected without a ‘honest’ listen, our ranks increase.
For every “team seminar”, you sponsor (directly or indirectly), by taking hard earned money from ‘desperate’ artist/groups and their families with the ‘false hope’ of being signed by a major label, we expand.
This is a new day in Detroit Hip Hop and the ‘Divide and Conquer’ tactics that have served (jlb) in the recent past (Playing a few artists to pacify the masses) are over. You will have to work with the DHHC. We look forward to working with you, but until that time,
DON’T SAY IT, PLAY IT!!
In all sincerity,
Members of the Detroit Hip Hop Coalition cc: Detroit Hip Hop Coalition members http://coalition.mainpage.net
(313) 767-9214 or Nobudget@vanglobal.com
