INTERN DIARIES /INDUSTRY INSIDER

   A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN INTERN ......



    She  the then turned her frown upside down and greeted me with a smile and said IM Claudine Joseph Im Chris Lighty’s assistant  I said Nice to meet you just as me and Claudine got aquinted   I noticed Simone coming from the back of the office  , Simone intrupted  “ Yamiek did  you get our food Im hungry “   I quickly answred yes  and  Claudine said nice meeting  you Yamiek and walked back to her desk . She seemed very nice with a warm personality . I quickly learned that there was a little shade going on in that office  Simone said  “She thinks someone is always talking about her “  ,” and her flat  ass”  Claudine was very nice and I really wasn’t paying attention to her shape . In that very same breath  Simone leaned over towards me and whispered Chris is on his way upstairs  hurry up and finish your lunch before he arrives .
She didn’t have to tell me twice I finished that chicken and mash before she could finish her next sentence .        



          Simone was still taking her sweet time  in between  looking in her handheld mirror and  responding to Pages on her 2way.  I took over the phones while Simone finished up her lunch  and her other dense tasks . The  Phone rang Simone looked at me as to indicate yea  that’s all you brother answer it !  I answered Violator .. I was timid it was my first phone call  the person on the other end  responded in a very deep voice  “ Yes its Jalen Rose for Simone please( jalen rose was a NBA star)  I said One moment put my hand over the receiver and said its “ Jalen Rose”  and handed Simone the phone . Her Face instantly Grew a smile and she spoke to Jalen for about 15 minutes before hanging up . She then informed me she had just met Jalen at a party a few nights ago and was just “ networking”  mmhmmm that’s what they all say  I thought in
my mind . Just  as she ended that call  the elevator doors Opened  it was the Big Black Sercurity Guard from my first meeting with Simone  .   I buzzed Rich in and Chris lighty was  Behind him on a phone carring a nap sack that looked very heavy . Rich said Hi to Simone complained about  the weather  .. Rich greeted me and said How  you like it so far . I retorted so far so good . Hows ya day going?   rich explained  as good as its going to get  its hot as fuck outside he explained .. I laughed .
 

          Chris slowly made his way past the main desk towards his office  and  Simone got up had some words with Chris , grabbed a set of Keys  went to Chris’s office to open his door for him then came back  and sat  next to me .  Chris was on the phone with what seemed to be a party promoter  “ Nah Fiddy aint dewin dat fuckin show , U want him to get hit over the head wit a fuckin Glass  bottle nigga “ “ He needs fuckin sercurity  this is the las time im gunna
explain that to you mutha fuckas” – I thought to myself wow is that how all industry people talk to each other  I better prepare myself . Jus as I heard Chris Slam his door James Cruz Walked by , James was weird he  always looked like he was  ya no messin with those white lines . always in a rush pacing around the office aimlessly  but all n all he was a nice dude . James was  out of the office alot on the road with different acts like Noreaga and Capone , 50 cent  & Missy Elliot . As I was  walking  back to the fax machine which was located in the  very back of the office near the rest room I  over heard James telling Claudine a story  about when he was in Miami for Missy’s bday party  and how  Janet Jackson had Both Jermaine Dupri and Justin Timberlake In V.I.P with her  “ Yea she had  both of them in there with her .. mmhmm . I was surprised   james  explained to Claudine. Claudine retored well who is she dating  James spit back quickly with
laughter”  Both of them”  ahhaah  they both laughed then continued talking about how nice the Miami weather was and how much he missed it and didn’t want to  be  in NewYork.I  personally praise  Janet for not settling for one guy  but we all know she ended up with in the end  and it was Justin Timberlake! This was way before Janets nipSlip incident at the superbowl when Justin timberlake ditched janet like a little bitch  I guess he wasn’t black when they wanted to boycott his ass he quickly claimed his white boy status. Poor Janet took all the blame .  And Janet Miss Jackson” if your nasty” kept it very cute when she appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show “ I will talk to him when im ready” “ Yes he has reached out  but im not ready to talk to him “  She showed him don’t fuck with a Musical icon  ! rookie .   Don’t get me wrong I think Justin is talented but u don’t” cross” a legend in the game its not a good look . My Next
couple of weeks in the office were even more interesting than my first day . aside from all the REAL famous people that you had entering and leaving the office  there were the hangers on like   the durrty money crew that consisted of  “ Detroit Diamond” . “ Gravy” and  “ Fendi” all up and coming rappers / street negro’s  From Brooklyn . Detroit was the coolest out of all of the three he seemed top priority at that time to the DUrrty money click he even had a  photo shoot with Rowena  one of Violators Photogphers they used from time to time for events and  photoshoots . Detroit didn’t look like ur typical rapper he seemed more like he would be an actor or behind the scene’s  he  wasn’t  Soft but he  wasn’t as hood as  his counter parts Gravy and   Fendi   .  Gravy was always Loud and trying to get attention, at this time his rap flow was  concurrent with a jay – z flow  to a “T” .I heard a record he recorded and  I whispered
to Simone  . “ he sounds like Jay ..  was that done purposely “ she jus gave me a look and snickered  .

          One day  as I was minding my own business at the front desk manning the phones  doing what interns do( I don’t know were Simone was ) .. Gravy walks up to the desk asking me questions . were is this person ? were is that person ? u got a pen ?  yo my home girl soposed to be coming here she a model make sure u buzz her in !  I was like ight  I got you . then out  of no were  Gravy says “ Yo son  you  got a little sugar in ya tank or what “  I just gave him a look like what type of question is that .  I retored  are  you that ignorant  I have to be gay right? Cause im here answering phones , I speak proper  the ladies in the office love me and you don’t know why .. ?I said .  He  retorted “nah I mean the way you walk are you a dancer ?” I retorted yes  I use to dance .  






             He then backed off saying its all cool  you good  , “jus remember
my home girl about to come through buzz that bitch in “, Just at that point  Claudine came walking by .. she asked “Yamiek Is gravy Bothering you”  I said  No he aint bothering me he is just a dickhead for asking about my personal business but  im not bothered .. How are you doing today Claudine , she said  stressed but im ok im living . then she walked in to  Mona ‘s office and shut the door  I couldn’t see who was in there  at the time I had just gotten back from the fax machine to gather the faxes that compiled over time it was my job to distribute them to the proper person. After I finished with the faxes ,  I could see Lil Mo and her husband( at the time) in Mona’s office Lil mo was pregnant and she was very short she had those same braids from the superwoman video except I don’t think they were blue this time, and she started to sing some  melody  for Mona from an old a song.I wasn’t to interested in her  soo I continued my “work
“.  Just as Lil Mo was leaving with her Husband  Mona came to were her interns sat .. they always seemed “scared straight” when she came around . Mona didn’t seemed threatening to me she was short a lil heavy set very nice complection  and most of the time had a smile on her face  she damn sure was no Anna Wintour !  but  I could definitely see why  they got all uptight . Mona said something to Donna  ,  Donna then ordered  Jessica( one of the other interns) to go  fetch some cigarettes for Mona . Donna  gave Jessica  Peddy Cash and  she was on her way .  When I got back  to the  desk I sat next to Simone like routine she was fixing her hair and looking at her nails , I picked up her 2way she swiftly asked  “ did any one hit me up on there “  I clicked down “ Nope”   she said oh ok . At that moment the elevator doors opended and emerged this beautiful 5 ft 11 black delightful tall glass of water . I figured that was  the “ bitch “  Gravy  was referring too   I buzzed her in and she approached the desk , Simone didn’t like conversing with the chics so I did all the talking. I said  Hi  you here for Gravy right ? she said yes Im Abeba Davis   (who later appear in many music videos, Havent seen her since expect for well u will have to wait for that) I said oh   that’s a nice name  she politely said “Thank you  nice to meet you “ Gravy slyly emerged from James’s office . “ Hey Baby , come this way as if he was standing there eaves dropping the whole time     .  She tipped toed along wearing Stilletoes   Straight leg jeans and a tight tang top you could see her nippes her breast were about a “C”cup Simone looked at me horridfied and said “ what was that all about”? Shortly after that Donna approached me and asked me to go on a “run”( a run can be anything from goin to fetch mona ‘s cigarettes which they only sell at this one store downtown or,goin to fed ex to carry tuns of paper for the fax machine I mean BOXES !!going to Chris’s car(which was parking a parking garage down the block) to go get something he left in there from the morning  but its all In the name of being an  intern right??) !! but ofcourse   I said sure ! she handed me a  motorolla flip phone , just like the one I had at the time . she said I need to you to run this to the Verizon store on 34th street  they are going to be waiting for you ,  Mona’s need all the  numbers out of this phone put into the blackberry that your going to pick up she declared . As I was exiting the office Prodigy of the Rap group mobb deep was entering the office he was soo short like he was a miget  I couldn’t belive how tall people seem on tv and what they actually look like in person . Not that the guy from mobb deep actually looked tall  on TV but shit I didn’t expect him to be that shorter than me. Prodigy stomped over to greet Claudine  and I headed out the door   .  

 

INTERN DIARIES Pt.3 Continued...

                           INTERN DIARIES / INDUSTRYINSIDER PT2CONTINUED.

         By the time that Monday morning came around for my first day at the office  I was so excited and  exhausted from a weekend of Partying and  hanging out wit my cousins Saquan , Payne , Mont  anyone who knows us knows how draining it can really be . I  remember waking up from the Hot rays of the sun seeping through the blinds of  the bed window of Paynes room were I was sleeping on the bed  Payne had fell asleep on the couch   the night before playing playstation on the big screen TV. I woke up around 630am  I  already had my clothes laid out from the night before  for all the obvious reasons I didn’t want to be running around  like a chicken with its head cut off in the morning . So all I had to do when I wake up was to  go in the shower and be on my  way to supthin and linden to catch a dollar cab . Payne only lived about a 5 minute walk from supthin and linden soo I didn’t  have to rush but I wanted to be prepared Simone told me 8am sharp and I know she meant business . When I arrived at Jamaica station it was already about 80 degree’s it was literally blazing. Noreaga’s “ Nothin” was the theme music on the way to the ave that hot morning . I was wearing a fitted Nets hat with the matching Mitchell and Ness Jersey with a pair of  jeans that were clearly too big for me and a pair of White air forces.  I thought since I would be interning at  a hiphop label I better fit in a sacrifice being  to be myself . When I got on the E train I was  more that happy to be out of that hot sun and all that heat beating down on my face. The E train was the closet I was getting to air conditioning for the time being . That train couldn’t have gone any faster since I was there early  I got  on the express E train to the city  I didn’t know why they called it express it only skipped about 5 stop’s , but I guess anything is an improvement when your trying to get somewhere in a hurry.          

             When I finally did arrive  in Manhattan I was once again reminded of hot  it was outside and it was going to get even hotter . I walked down 25th street when I got off the  train , just as I was arriving in front of the  building were there Violator offices were  I noticed a lady  walking  a Couple of  feet in front of  me , I had a funny feeling that  this was Mona’s assistant that Simone was telling me about , Simone never did  give me a name on her and I should have asked  I was  jus excited I got the internship , you could say I was living in the moment. By the time I had arrived at the door the Lady I assumed to be  Mona’s assistant was already in side the building  typing on her motorolla 2way pager and  chatting on a flip phone . she was talking very fast and  it seemed as though she was a little under pressure , “ Yes Mona , I will have it done ,  I will check on it , Stuttering with her words Alright when will  you be in  “she asked  she waited for a response  Ok  she replied  looking somber and hanging up the flip phone but still sending messages on her   pager  when she looked up we made eye contact , She said  “good morning “  I replied good Morning!  better yet HOT morning “ She laughed  and said yes its soposed to be 92 degree’s today  , then I said Hi Im Johhny  and your Mona Scott's  assistant  right ?. She  replied Yes Im  “Donna “  she Extended her hand to shake mine , after we shook hands  and exchanged words  I explained im the new intern  she replied , Yes ! I know I just received  word from Simone via email . After she spat that bit of information at me we headed towards the elevator doors  before I knew it we were at the office Glass Windows . As we entered the office Donna went directly to the left to Mona’s Office  opened the blinds straightened up the area were Mona had left some cigarette buds  in an ash tray  Turned on  a laptop that was at the desk, Donna then Gave me a brief lesson on the Switch board and how to work it the faster and most effective  way. She told me You always answer the phone with an Aggressive Opening “ VIOLATOR” then  take   the appropriate notes or transfer the call to the proper exstention. Donna then proceeded to show me around the office were she strategically pointed out were certain peoples office was  and  who would be sitting were and what to expect when certain people were in the office. We walked around the office from front to back she  explained to me were the fax machine and printer’s were and were the one and only bathroom was .                                             

          Donna then proceeded to tell me that usually after she arrived Violators A&R guy “ Dre”  would be in shortly after her I later learned  he  would also be from  South side Queens . Donna  was also  from queens but  she lived in Lefrak City in Corona .  Just like Donna warned me  Dre arrived  He also had a key  He went straight into his office which was located  on the right  near the entrance , as soon as Dre closed the door he began to listen to what sounded liked Demo’s from rappers  non of which sounded to promising . in any event , just as I was getting comfortable sitting at the front desk  Simone came Strolling in she was  wearing a brown sun dress with  matching sandals  a  Monogram gucci bag and  sassy attitude to match . Simone always greeted you with a smile , that is if she liked you , Once I buzzed her in  I scooted over to the chair next to the one I was sitting in  Simone wanted me next to her soo I would be “ on call” to run any errands she needed to be executed .  My first Task of the day was to take a package to  Night time Disc Jockey  Kay Slay aka the DRAMA KINGS apartment   He lived in the city  in a very nice luxury high rise , Simone handed me a envelope she explained  this is for “ slay”  she jotted down an address and sent me on my way . When I stepped outside I  had forgotten how extreamely Hot It was outside . The heat of  2002 summer is something I would never forget .  I didn’t know what to expect from  slay  I had only up until this time  heard his voice on the radio , from his  voice I knew he would be tall big and black  and I was right ! what I wasn’t expecting was him to be nice . He was !  When I entered his building the Non  English speaking Spanish door man tried to ask me who I was  coming to see  I must have had to say Kay slay one million times before he pressed a bunch of buttons on a switch board and got slay on the line , the door man hung up  the phone  told me the floor number and I  headed towards the  elevator  the elevator ride was short he only lived on the 20th floor or so , as I knocked on the door surprisingly  enough I wasn’t nervous  slay opened the door he was gave me a warm welcome he said “ yo wut up “   you Simone dude right ? I said yea im  her intern he said  ok cool ! I handed him the package he told me be careful out there in the heat   he offered me a glass of water but I said no thanx  we exchanged the typical hood handshake he said “ good looking” and shut the door .  When I arrived back at the office it was about noon , I saw some black SUV’s outside so I assumed someone important was either already upstairs or  about to head upstairs after me . When I got upstairs  Simone buzzed me In she asked me did I find the building  ok  I told her Yes ! she then signaled for me to come sit next to her so she can prep me for the phones and learning how to work the 2way pager  , Just as she  was about to give me my first lesson on the phones  No other than  Busta Rhymes Comes over and gives  Simone a big kiss on the cheek ,  I didn’t even see were he came from  But I did hear him before I saw him,   homeboy is as loud and is as animated as he is on his records and his music videos . At this time Busta had a hot single with P.diddy called “ Pass the Couvesier “  I loved that song . it was  definitely a club banger . Busta had a lady with him  and  one of his sons , Simone later explained to me that the lady he was with was his hair stylist who twisted his locs for him when he was in NewYork .Simone said to me  “ I cant belive he pays her 500 dollars to twist his hair that’s a rip off”” I don’t even pay that much for my weave “ she mumbled under her breath.  Busta was about to leave  the building  for an appearance later that night on the WWE  ,his son seemed so excited that his father was going to be on the WWE , you know those little kids love that wrestling . 

      

      I wasn’t to fond of wrestling because I knew it was just Entertainment and everything was rehearsed . Just as Busta was leaving to get on a tour bus that was parked downstairs  I was sent on another “errand run” this time it was  to go get Simone some lunch from down the block , so me  Busta , busta’s son  Spliff star and busta’s hair stylist all jammed in the elevator. Busta  seemed to  be cool ,   I never got introduced to him but that was  by choice ,he was very intimidating  not threatening but intimidating he was 6ft something he had locs and he was talking real loud with someone on a cell phone . through the corner of my eye I could see he handed his hair stylist something that looked like a pack of “backwoods”  to put in her purse . im   guessing that’s were he kept his weed supply, the hair stylist didn’t mind taking it thought but it didn’t seem like miss thing had a choice in the matter ,  she took the  pack of backwoods and  put it  in the bottom of her bag re applied lipgloss and put on a pair of shades  .  Busta saw me looking so I quickly looked the other direction .   The elevator doors opened and I was the first one out of there .. thank god I thought to my self ,  the last thing I needed was Busta rhymes to cuss me out for being a nosey intern . As I exited the building  the air was a little cooler the wind was blowing the summer time air finally felt good for the first time that day .  Simone was very specific of what she wanted to eat . there was this bodega that had a small buffet  she explained she wanted  “fried chicken cullet with mash a   salad with romain lettuce ceasar dressing and two fiji waters  “. And  said I could get whatever I wanted  I got the same thing as her except for all the extras. As I  gave the cashier the money  and waited for my change I made sure I had gotten everything I was asked to get .  I doubled and tripled checked ! . When I arrived back upstairs Simone wasn’t at the receptionist desk so I had to wait to be Buzzed in , as I waited on the other side of the glass door  this short  light skinned woman with curly hair  buzzed me in , she said  Hi who are  you here for .. I said  Oh   Im Johhny  the new intern.........

INTERN DIARIES /INDUSTRY INSIDER

   

                                  " DUST YOURSELF OFF AND TRY AGAIN"....  Pt3




       It was another rainy day  out when  Saquan , Payne and myself made our way to  Manhattan just like when me and my mom traveled on the LIRR for my interview with Vicky Charles  so again I thought OH no this is bad luck . Saqaun  who was 2 years older than me his birthday was  the day after mine November the 9th  so growning up we  always celebrated  our birthdays together  we even had matching birthday cakes  I remember we had a big birthday bash one year in the continental room out in  Corona queens  in  Lefrak . So when we arrived in manhattan  it took no time to locate the  Building we pulled up in Saquans  green 1997 honda accord  which was nicknamed “lucy”  I sat In the front seat  Payne was  in the back , Payne was an inspiring rapper like most niggas in the hood , He was light skin and had Braids that went a little passed his shoulders he wore glasses back in the day that looked like coca cola bottles now today he wore  contacts to fit his  more mature image .  Payne was my godbrother  and his Mother named lorraine was my godmother They lived  across town from Saquan  near Supthin and Linden  .  As I exited the car and started walking across the street    to enter the building I heard another car door slam directly after mine I knew it wasnt saquan getting out because I  know damn well he had about 3 unpaid tickets and he didn’t want  another  , it was payne , I should have known . He was into the music too so I should have expected him to want to come with, but I didn’t really want him to come inside with me , to me it just looked unprofessional  , but he promised he would be on his best behavior . so I just said what ever lets go . As me and Payne entered the building on 25th street  I remembered that  Jimmy Henchmen and Bryce Wilson had an office  down the block were they ran there Mangement company were Jimmy would later become 50 cent protégé’” THE G.A.M.E.’s manager. Me and payne walked into the elevator ,I  had those butterflies in my  stomach and the sweating started again but something told me I was goin to walk out of this interiview with some sort of position at  violator .


    When we arrived at the 8th floor of the building the  elavator doors opened and there stood  a Big Black Man clearly he was some sort of security dressed in  regualar street clothes talking to the a  receptionist . I walked right up to the  front desk Payne stood an appropriate feet away from me  near the  the Big Black Seccurity Guard who I would later come to know as Rich He was  Chris Lighty’s personal security . As I got  right infront of the desk and Said Hi Im Yamiek is Simone available ? I knew that  this wasn’t  Simone because it was a dude  sitting there answering phone calls and  directing them to the appropriate extenstion . He seemed like he knew what he was doing but he didn’t want be at that desk  there was a lot going on in  the lobby of  Violator , the smell of  Haze filled the air lightly and  a  bunch of thugs  friends(were there hanging out ) of  Chris Lighty’s younger  brother Mike lighty and his “company” durrty Money” was run out of the same office .  I asked the dude at the desk was Simone available and he informed me she stepped out for lunch and she would be back in about  twenty minutes so he  had Rich  the big black security guard es court me and payne  to the  lounge  but not before  payne could embarrass  me and ask Rich   “ yo  you Chris lighty Man “ ?  Rich  Quickly responded” No”  and said  to me is He  with you  I responded  with  no eye contact “ yea he wit me”  wishing I can say no!  follow me in here . rich said   he  brought  us to what  I Guess  you would call a there conference room / what ever room .  It had a Tv  A big  conference table and  lots of chair and  windows with a ledge that u can sit on .                                                                                                           




    I was Nervous as usual besides from payne’s stupid question and the fact that now I had to wait around for  Simone  not knowing when  she would be arriving  because twenty minutes can easily turn into  forty minutes  for black people on lunch break .  I was waiting no longer than 15 minutes before Big Rich came back and  told me that Simone was here and ready to see me  .  I got up Off the window ledge I was sitting on were I was looking out the window outside at saquans car .  I got up  walked out the of the conference room were me and payne were at and walked back to the  front desk  there Sat a brown skin woman who appeared to be in her late twenties  blowing on her nails  trying not to smudge what looked like a fresh paint job , she  was sitting down in the chair  ignoring the phones  she looked up at me with a smile and said  Hey you Must be Johnny   Dham told me all about you . You can start  next week I just got rid  of one of my interns she explained .  I was surprised  ,  I said wow that’s it I got the job she said Yes you are officially an intern  be here Monday morning at 8 am sharp Mona Scotts  Assistant will let you in ,  Simone then pointed towards Mona’s office with a slight attitude which I couldn't read too deeply into  at that moment I was just happy that she hired me  for an Unpaid internship free lunch and a metro card  plus about 50 dollars every week for my pocket .  I could tell  Simone was a girl from the hood  who  got out of the hood and was quite different from the girls that she probally grew up with that satyed in the hood and had about 3 kidz . Simone was  about  my height at the time which was 5ft 6 she  had Beautiful brown skin and she wore her hair in a weave which was shoulder length . She  dug  into her Coach bag to look for something after hair nails dried  . She took out her Motorolla 2way pager and began returning an email  she then looked at me and  said do you know how to work one of these things and I  replied no  she said good that is what im going to teach you Monday morning you will need to know how to  work  one of these in this industry  on top of that your going to be running errands , answering phones and just helping out with thing that need to be done around the office .  I was so  excited even though I knew it would be no walk in the park .  After me and Simone chatted for about 35 minutes I forgot all about payne in the conference room  but that would be short lived as I turned around I saw Payne standing in the door way ,  Simone noticed at that point I was distracted and she said to me , do you know him and I said Yea that’s my God brother he came to accompany me ,  Simone then gave me a look I knew what that look meant  , that was the look like don’t bring anyone with you here again  look   the less is more look  which I totally agreed. Simone then said to me Ok Johnny  I cant wait to chat more on Monday remember 8 am sharp don’t be late  you most likely be the first person here besides Mona’s assistant , I will alert her that you will  meet her outside of the building.
   
       I then signaled for Payne  to come out of the conference room  he exited then we made our way out to the elevator Simone Buzzed us out and I waved back at Simone she then waved  back at me  with a smile and a wink .  As me and Payne waited for the  elevator  to come to the 8th floor  he wanted details  about what happen  he didn’t stop asking questions  back to back  and I didn't feel like repeating it 1, 000 times soo I told him to wait and I would explain it to him in the car were Saquan was still  patiently waiting . By the time we  got into  elevator and made it back  to  the car out side  It was sunny and Hot as hell out side  Saquan  was blasting some new mixtape he bought on the Jamaica Avenue   the day before  and rolling a blunt , I hoped in the back seat Payne got in the front  . Saquan wanted details and of course payne did too .  “ what happen my niggah “ saquan said , I said I got the internship I start Monday 8 am . It was a nice ride back to  queens   after getting the great news and not to mention we was high as shit from that blunt SaQuan rolled . It seemed Saquan and Payne were more excited than I was about  my internship  but I had a  habit of putting on my poker face real well .  I should have know that this was going to be a weekend of parting after receiving the good news  I mean it wasn't that major of a deal to be getting an internship but to niggas in the hood and the dudes in my family that was like  you got  your feet in the door   now make good use of it .  I don’t even believe that I knew how serious a deal it was that I got an internship at 17 its kinda un heard  of unless you were a son or a nephew of a High powered record executive or  if   you knew the right people or associated with the right people like I was .. this was  all the proof I needed to support the  term “ ITS NOT WHAT YOU KNOW BUT  IN FACT WHO YOU KNOW”  so true  especially in the Entertainment Industry .   


     Now when it came around to that Monday I had made arrangements with Payne's Mother  Lorraine but everyone in our family referred to her as “ rainey “ a childhood nickname that stuck with her . Rainey agreed that I can stay with her for the summer  while I was interning  , I was over joyed because I knew it would be crazy  confusing for me to travel from Dix Hills everyday  to the city  and further more, expensive  for  seventeen year old . Payne and his mom lived  in  in south Jamaica Queens  walking distance from 48 park   were my cousin would go to play basketball from time to time  Payne’s step father “DAY DAY”  would always have his annual summer basketball In Memory Of Molly tourtement  a speacial dedication to his brother who passed away many years earlier from a tragic car accident . But by this time  Rainey and  Day Day  had been legally separated and  it was just me Rainey and Payne living together and  my other cousin Lamont which was  Payne’s brother . Living with them was a big difference   from what I was used to  living with my parents in long island  I went from living in a 6 bedroom 3 bathroom house  to living in a 2 bed room one 1 bathroom house , but my godmother  rainey extened her home to me and I was more than gracious to accept . Staying in south Jamaica queens during the summer of 2002 was  nothing that I could have ever imagined boy was I was I in for a rollar coaster ride .

INTERN DIARIES .... PT2 !!!

EXCERPT FROM  THE "INTERN DIARIES/INDUSTRY INSIDER"....

 ....And he did he left a message on the answering machine for me stating he set up a meeting with a A & R by the name of Vicky Charles over at Universal who needed an intern the year was 2001 and I was finishing my Junior  Year  of  high school in  Dix Hills Long Island  at High school West ,Yes the name of the town sounds suspect  but it was a predominately white neighbor hood with rich white housewives  who drives there spoiled kids to school in Benz’s and rovers and anything else there long money can get there hands on  it was a big change from living in Rosedale and   Ozone Park Queens  Hollis  or any other  place I had lived , when we moved on our block in the summer of 1996 it was  only 2 other  black Families  out of the 50 plus homes that were in our little community . At this time I was now 17 and very naïve   but very intuned with the industry from people behind the scenes to the entertainers themselves.  So the day came were I had my meeting at the Universal building I have to admit I brought along my mom with me to ride the LIRR remember I had jus turned 17 and my mother was not about to let me travel all the way to the city alone.   




That ride from the Wyandanch train station to Penn station had to be the longest hour of my life, when me and my mom exited the train and walked along the platform we noticed it was raining out side and I could have sworn  that was going to be bad luck. When my mother and I arrived at the Universal Building I saw all types of people out front trying to sell me and my mom there demo tapes, all I heard my mom say was  “ they probably think were are someone important “, then we proceeded to walk into the building  when we walked through the lobby of the building we approached an elderly man with some sort of rent a cop outfit on  with a Clipboard with  a pen attached to it and name tags . The security guard  had to be atleast 65 years old , after the security guard called up stairs to the label and confirmed my appointment  he gave my mother and I  name tags and directed Us to to a wall of elevators and told us to “ take it all the way up to the 25th floor “   the elevator opened and Out came a number of record label heads on on there blackerry’s and flip phone to there ears   , assistants  going  on  errand runs  looking more nervous than I did on that day You also had you’r carriers who  looked like they took up the majority of the elevators , I would later come to know that not all record labels use personal carriers all the time and that would be the job of a  struggling intern willing to do anything  to please there  boss and be noticed .  so  I  finally arrived at the 25th floor mother in toe sweaty arm pits aswell lol  ,  at this point I was sweating so heavily and hoping that it didn’t show on my shirt or my forehead   I felt the water trickling down my back and under my arms I was scared straight I was about to walk into an interview with Vicky Charles the only thing I knew about the woman was she was a woman and that was it . I almost wanted to tell my mother lets go ! lets just forget it  im too nervous and all I could think about  was rejection but I had to remind my self Rejection is the name of the game  and I had to remember  even the best have  gotten  rejected.  So I internally   sucked it up and   down the plank I  mean the   the  Long hall way filled with Platinum Plaques Gold plaques   From  some of  universals Heavy hitters in the Industry  this was enough inspiration I needed to  walk into  Vicky Charles ‘s office .                                                                                                                                                                               




A very Sexy tall model esque type receptionist escorted me and my mother towards her office  were   
I was introduced to  Vicky’s assistant  Dham Raj  who was about my height,  Cooli hair light skin and    a warm smile  he looked to be mixed with some eastern European he  definitely wasn’t all negro . As we grew closer to the door of Vicky’s office  all that nervousness left my body as   I entered the  office it was almost pitch black in there , insence  was burning no lights only candles   it was a very calm environment  the back of Vicky’s big black Corporate  chair was  the first thing  I noticed  she was  sitting in the chair with her back facing the door  that was intimidating as hell cause I had no clue what this woman looked like or how she would act  towards me  or even what she sounded like . As I sat down in one of the 2 chairs that were placed in front of her Mohogany desk  my mom waited out side with another one of her assistants  . she remained seated she remined me of a black rosie o donnell and  queen latifah mixed all in one with a dash of Lesbian  flavor her skin was caramel with shoulder length hair  she wore all black which freaked me out more than her dark office and  her insence burning making my eyes water .  Vicky extended her  hand I stood up to shake her hand ............,
            HI Im Johnny   I said she then let go of my hand and said nice to meet  you ! and I said like wise .  Vicky was looking at me like this boy looks like he is still on similac formula  but I didn’t let her  curious looks deter me  in  letting her know I was right for the internship position . Following our introduction  Vicky’s  first question was  How old are  you Johnny and I replied   confindently seventeen I will be 18  in November after my response she tilted her head to the side and  said  oooo your young most of my interns are either freshmen in college or  highschool seniors  she  continued to say unfortunately  I cannot take you on , but I  will keep  your name  on  file and  you will be eligible  for a internship when  you turn 18 or when you graduate highschool . After that damn dispointment I felt my own world was crushed but I kept my poker face on  and  thanked  Ms. Charles for the opportunity left my  contact info with her assistant
as I exited the area were   Vicky’s  assistants desk were seated I broke the news to my mother who was patiently waiting   for me . As I approached my mom she immediately asked  "How did it go ?" " what did she say ?" " Why do you u have that look on your face?"...  my mom had a tendacy to be  a little evasive at times but  I knew she  didn’t mean any harm, I just simply said to her "Im to young I didnt get it" . at that point I don’t think my mom knew what to say to me  so she didn’t say anything , so we proceeded to walk back down that long hallway that gave me the inspiration from seeing all the platinum and gold plaques on the wall there is were we saw Dham Raj  one of Vicky’s assistants he approached me and asked me how did it go , I broke the bad news to him and.. he said well  I tell you what since  you did come here and  you are kinda young it shows me you really want this  he insisted we exchange numbers  and  he said he would Call me after he spoke  to one of his associates that he knows over at  his old Job Violator Records . Violator records was run by CEO Chris Lighty and   President Mona  Scott  and VP James Cruz .  Dham Raj was reliable he called me back  in about a week which is good by industry standards  , Industry people can  be real shady and very fake  but he didn’t seem that way.  When  Dham  Raj  called me he said  Yo Johnny I got good news  I spoke to  Simone Lyons over at Violator Records she is the main receptionist over there  he  told me that he set  me up with an appointment to meet her to see if I fit the criteria , That sounded like music to my hears  I immediately  said thank you and  told Dham I would call him and let him know how it went . The Summer was just a week or so away at this point  and  normally I would  go to Queens to my cousin Saquans house he lived in St. Albans off Linden Blvd. Long island was just too  quiet for me  even though I enjoyed the lifestyle in longIsland I need to go back to my roots ,I wasn’t  Of the hood I was from the hood soo I liked to keep my ear to what the niggas in the hood thought was  hot and what was not . In any event  the time came to when I had to travel to Manhattan to 25th street were  Violator Records was located ,  since I was staying in queens for the weekend  I  would ask my cousin Saquan to Drive me to the city  I  had told him about my interview with Universal and  how  I was too young for that particular internship so he  and my cousin Payne was excited for me when I told  them I might have an  opportunity over at Violator Records .......