The cover page may indicate November and you may be reading this in September, but I'm writing this in July. It's summertime and the season is in full swing. If you didn't make it to a car show this season, put this book down now and go work in the shoe industry or something! Primedia's (our parent company) books cover all the important shows so I hope you at least cruised our pages if you didn't get out. As of this writing the various regions are all putting on their own events and it's making the industry much more competitive. Needless to say we have all been to one too many of the "same type of events," so let's just say it's about time. Competition is good; without it, there's no market. Trust, we need the new blood.
Speaking of new blood, hip-hop is shifting on its axis, and it will affect the entire music business. Okay, by now you have all heard of the static between Nas and Jay-Z. This affects us in the mobile entertainment industry, obviously, so let's dish on it for a moment. Trivialities and detailia aside, it's a good ol' clash between the old generation fighting to retain power and the new generation breaking paradigms. There is a lot of ugly stuff that I'm not printing but let me tell you again, it's good - new blood. Don't get me wrong, I love Jay and I cannot deny his skills, it's just that things should stay changing, especially hip-hop. Nas is by no means new, either; he's been down forever, but he does rep the younger, more savvy generation that is not swayed or impressed with Cristal or a car as a form of creativity. Ignorant folks think hip-hop is about controversy when actually it is about evolution of the game; it's about who takes that controversy and wins. If you got G, then why worry? If you have no G, then go find, cultivate, or cop some game. How does this affect the mobile entertainment industry, you say? Well for one thing, certain personalities in entertainment align themselves with certain product brands and this is changing too. Just because some of the old guard have big names that doesn't necessarily mean their product will continue to sell. Quality, integrity, and good old-fashioned ideas are what will keep the product brands in the youth's loop. The youth always knows when it is being sold BS - and word will get around, don't forget. If one is not working hard to make things happen, one deserves nothing. Period.
Change is always a big theme with me; as far as shops are concerned it seems like folks are always changing. Frankie D. changed up fo' sho'. He used to be the best name to call at his old job (a big northeast outlet), but is now a boss himself. Congratulations! He was also at Action Tire for 12 years before that so if you are anybody in the game, then you know him. He has opened a shop (with partners) called F1 Motoring in Sayreville, N.J., and is steadily making it a big name. Club-going folks know of Club Abyss, which is owned by his partner and housed right next door to the shop. We will profile his shop upcoming, so keep your ears tuned for their car show.
Speaking of shops, starting next month you will get straight-up profile of shops, from different regions, just to let folks know the climate out in the real world. If you are a hot shop, let me know. In my many glamorous economy ticket travels I will come to visit you, possibly stealth-like or possibly on the real to see what kind of joint you are running or if you really got some magic going on up in there. Also if you know of a shop that has been doing its thing, hit me up. Keep in mind though, I will be doing my research and I got peoples out in the field who will spook the real deal, so don't gas yourself! Love-Love though, no doubt