OHIO HIP HOP AWARDS 2015 LEARN 2 EARN CONFERENCE

Okkkkkk Soooo when I finally got the stamp of approval aka "Media Pass" for the Ohio Hip Hop Awards 2015, I was super pumped!!!! I'm not really sure if people realize how awesome an OHHA MEDIA PASS is! Not only does it allow you access to the  awards show , it also allows you entry to all the events leading up to the official ceremony!

The 1st event I was finally able to attend after finally breaking away from my 9-5 was the LEARN 2 EARN CONFERENCE. *Think of a room full of highly productive, accomplished, motivated, intelligent mentors, seated inches away from you, ready to dispense valuable knowledge of the music industry for you to use, to help further your success. (yeah….it's that damn awesome!) This year the conference was held at the Cleveland Tri-c Community College. Parking was easily mapped out(*thanks KickaGirl), so  I grabbed my pass and proceeded to walk onto the campus READY TO LEARN. 

As usual the 1st group I ran into was of course TOP OF THE WORLD. They always look like a unified group, all wearing TOP OF THE WORLD shirts, and standing in a tight circle. (*Admit it, even if you aren't a part of TOP OF THE WORLD, you wanna just wear a shirt right along with them) I walked through the campus doors and right away I felt a little uncomfortable. Not because anyone made me feel uncomfortable, but because everything looked so "professional", clean, and yup…just like I was about to check in for a college course or SAT. Walking into the huge auditorium was stunning!!!! Stadium seating made it simple to find a good seat to watch and listen to the panels. Hell…all the seats were great seats. 

The irony about the LEARN 2 EARN CONFERENCE, is that some artists feel as though they are "to cool" or "ahead of the game", like they don't need to check out what is being taught by a panel of professionals. Yet, the speakers that take the time to speak and teach always seem to provide encouraging, plentiful knowledge, and we leave knowing more than what we came in with. As I panned around the auditorium I noticed already successful individuals quietly taking notes, and looking with serious eyes at the panel on stage. I mean DjCOCOZ , Chris Goody, the whole clique from I'm From Cleveland, STONEY from MyloudRadio, and hella of other already established artists from the city were in attendance. Proving that even once you have accomplished something, you can always expand and make more room in your mind, so that you can accomplish something else.  Quietly wiggling myself into my seat I began to take my own notes.

Whoa…I'm like really here right now!

It's super quiet, I can't help but think about Method Man and Redman clowning the professor in HOW HIGH.

Wow, they really stepped it up this year for this LEARN 2 EARN CONFERENCE…so we fancy huh

OMG! Chris GOODY is in here, he literally has done everything I've wanted to do, but he looks so quiet sitting here, he mos def doesn't even realize he's the coolest guy in the room.

Josh from TOP OF THE WORLD is the coolest speaker, sooooooo laid back, always the same expression.

Matt from TOP OF THE WORLD is the more talkative brother.

Got damn, TOP OF THE WORLD HAS come a long way..

DJ BALL looks like he wants to say more than what he is saying.

OMG!!! Shuga Booga is just awesome at hosting. He is really doing a good job at moving this panel, and asking great questions.

Shuga Booga could probably host a funeral…yeah…that'd b dope.

People who didn't come are totally missing out, they are probably out somewhere handing out music that hasn't been copyrighted yet…..ugh

This was an excellent choice to have this conference at Tri-C.

Wait….I'm not sure if I just heard that right…did they announce that CASSIDY will be going the panel?

No way….I mean yeah the OHHA has managed to bring in some big name artists, but CASSIDY…battle rap, speak his mind CASSIDY….no f*cking way

Oh wait…they just said some guy named NEXT is going to speak 1st

Who is NEXT?

Whoa!!! It's STONEY from MYLOUDRADIO

I'm moving my seat so I can sit next to her and TRAY STYLES

It was at that moment when I sat next to STONEY, it really dawned on me. I was in a room full of accomplished individuals, who had their own companies, and movements going on. These people had started from the bottom, and still wanted to LEARN 2 EARN more. Everyone basically had a piece of paper, scribbling away, furiously taking notes. I literally witnessed people using the backs of envelopes, or old paper they found from outta nowhere…to take notes. *It's like being in school, and not having any paper, but then you realize that the teacher is saying things that actually are important, and things you may possibly need to remember for your future. It was a beautiful thing to see so many people taking notes and , sincerely wanting to LEARN 2 EARN.

I decided to excuse myself during the panel change to check out what was going on in the registration lobby. Jessica Harnegie aka the glue, rock, co-host and professional multi-tasker for GET IT POPPIN RADIO was rapidly providing badges, and registration packets to incoming artists. Zaire from REBEL LIFE MEDIA was smiling while looking at his Ohio Hip Hop Award Nominee recognition Certificate. Quincy Taylor aka Big HEFF was casually walking around...networking, and catching up with everyone. Bobby Booshay and the I'm From Cleveland clique were quietly checking in, and DOM was bustling about with a tower of fresh hot pizza for those who were lucky enough to grab a slice before it was gone. 

It's always exciting when I bump into Big Heff. Not only is he a great friend, but  he's a man on the go and is always making moves, (marketing, touring and promotions, VP of the Nerve Dj's, and original co-founder of the Ohio Hip Hop Awards, Radio Host, and professional TURN UPPER) yet he will always find time to catch us up to speed with what's going on outside of the city. 

Mike Vasquez, and D. Lorand were seen ushering in attendants, and they seemed to be waiting for something to happen. I would say…almost nervously looking and waiting for something to happen. I felt on edge a little, thinking maybe a fire drill was about to go down…cuz yeah…the whole school campus thingy had me feeling like that. That's when I realized it was time to take my seat again , and that the next speaker was ready for the panel. NEXT!!!!!!!!!!

I will admit. I had no idea who the guest speaker NEXT was. It wasn't until after his super introduction was I able to understand that NEXT is a man who made millions…yes MILLIONS people…Cha-Chinggggg by turning music into revenue generating art! He sold his company Amalgam Digital, and now he teaches artists how to use the tools he used to make money in the industry. When NEXT walked out he brought an energetic aura with him. I mean…we all wanted to LEARN 2 EARN on how he made millions, and learn how we could do the same.

We 1st started off sitting erect. NEXT was so energetic that he pulled us in from the jump. He vowed not to overly talk about himself , and promised us…yes promised us that he would provide  tools needed to be successful. We listened for the 1st 15 mins, as he jumped from topic to topic. He repeated himself a number of times…mostly about ….himself. He gave a backdrop of how he started his company, him being the 1st to create trailers for music videos, and him pioneering digital music. NEXT quickly began to sweat, and talked faster and faster! Whoa!!!! What started off as an intro into how he possibly made a huge mistake in his career by judging and not signing MGK, turned into a loopy, chaotic, turbulent lecture about his hunger for food (he stated that he hates pizza…sorry DOM)…then scolding us for eating "Sh*t", and  putting the wrong thing into our bodies, and how we should eat all organic, and that led to the stars in the sky, and dinosaurs, and aliens, and that led to avoiding "big egos", and that led to believing in yourself and your product, which led to making money, and then he led us back to good vs evil, and religion, and technology, and then that led us to how he was invited and paid to be a speaker on the panel and that led him back to us…*finally, and then NEXT started to finish his story about meeting MGK, but then that led to him telling us he used to be an as*hole, and he wished he wasn't 1 when he met MGK which led to him saying "magic is science", he wanted our 3rd eye to be closed off, the music industry is full of bullish*t, which led to relationships and NEXT suggested all we really want in life is love, friendship, and family, don't pay for views….and he finally left us with "Your net worth is only as good as your network"!!!! *Whew! By that point, over an hour had passed by, bladders were on full, and NEXT was just starting to climax. Luckily Dom gently flashed her cellphone light to grab his attention , and kindly reminded him of the time limit. NEXT was full of so much knowledge, but he was nervous,  and he humbly told all of us...that…he was not a great keynote speaker (*after all of that). Him admitting that made me like him even more and we all forgave him for that crazy roller coaster of speech. He is mos def the kinda guy you would love to meet at a coffee house at talk about the world, music, wealth, the industry , and magic.

Well damn…..that was…interesting

What time is it?

He's gotta be thirsty by now…I know I'm thirsty

Most super smart people, are chaotically strange ….but in a good way

Who's' up next

His Redbull is cut off

Cool Sneakers….I like green

BSMOOTH…always looks so damn "smooth"

I wonder who's their barber?

I wonder if I have any time to go to the bathroom 

Oh wait…the next panel is being set up!

Ohhhhhhh they really did say CASSIDY!

I'ma Hustla…I'ma I'ma HUSTLA!!!

*had to do the lil dance

Chris Goody probably has the dopest shoe collection on the low, all legit sh*t too! Only dude I know rocking these.

I'm moving my seat closer to Bsmooth now, so I can get a different angle of the panel.

They smell good

DOM is so classy, and she is super professional

Zima Luv is always helping out, awwwww she's running back and forth with the mic for the questions from the audience.

After a very short intermission the stage was set for the next panel of guests. I noticed that after the seats were taken on stage there was an empty chair. I slumped down thinking Cassidy really wasn't coming. Then all of the sudden, Cassidy floated out on his hoverboard, and took a seat. The audience became vibrant again. We all were eager to hear Cassidy's take on the industry. I mean come onnnnnnnn, dude has seen it all!!!! He was open, assertive and sincere about everything . 

BIG MUCCI also was a great informative speaker on the panel. Many things that he said seemed to stick like glue to the people in the auditorium, BIG MUCCI created most of the line dance music we hear played at very single party or celebration! He gently told us to always believe in our art. 

Well damn……soooooo Big MUCCI is literally the line dance KING!

Did he really just say that there are only a handful of line dance music makers in the world?

What's a party without a line dance?

He seems very humble

This is interesting

Shuga Booga took a few more questions from the audience. Cassidy spit wise words of trill wisdom. Basically he told us that no artist should expect fame and riches overnight. That even a doctor has to put in years of hustle and handwork before finally getting paid and owning his own medical practice.The LEARN 2 EARN CONFERENCE was mos def informational , and I walked away wishing I had hover boarded away like CASSIDY. 

*Group photos were taken of all the speakers, and all of the participants started to rush the stage to try and get a selfie with Cassidy. I was seriously thinking he was ready to roll out, but to my surprise he stuck around and shook hella hands, and he even took music that local artists passed to him. 

Thinking the conference had finally reached it's end, many of us started to head towards the exits. That was until it was announced that a few awards were about to be given out. 

Wait….soooooo you mean its not over

OMG!!!! People are winning awards right now?!?!!?

I wish they would have kinda awarded a few in the middle of the conference, or had a speaker hand them out.

Sucks some people left already

These people put in a lot of work to be rushed an award

OMG!!!!!!! Shuga Booga WON!!!!! I'm happy for him! He super deserves it!

Awwwwwwwww he looks super happy lol

BEST SHOW HOST WINNER!!!!

GET IT!!!!

Wait there are more winners

Everything seems chaotic 

YES!!!!!!!! Chris Goody won!!!! 

2x winner Mr. Goody PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR!

Damnnnnnn if they are giving out all the dope categories today at the conference, then what will be left for  the actual ceremony?

This is exciting

It's hard to hear 

Where's Zima Luv, she should be handing these out…yeah ...

OMG!!!!! I'm FROM CLEVELAND just won Best Media Outlet!!!!

You gotta respect these guy!

How can I be down?

You ever notice how the whole I'm FROM CLEVELAND team moves in silence.

LOVE THEM!

Bobby BOOSHAY!!!!!!!!!

Just like that…it was over. The LEARN 2 EARN CONFERENCE had finally ended. The next stop was the AGORA BALLROOM where the annual Ohio Hip Hop Award Showcase was  being held. Realizing that the event started at 6pm, I shuffled out of the Tri-c Auditorium , gave a lil dap and a few hugs to the winners, and proceeded on to the next leg of the OHHA 2015.