Never Too Late- The Grand Prix Story...

Never Too Late- The Grand Prix Story...

Perhaps nothing has been more entertain… no that’s not the right word. In truth, I don’t think there is one singular word that can be used to summarize or capsulate the life and career of Jonathan Johnson, better known to his fellow rapper and the Jacksonville community at large as simply Grand Prix.

A native of Jacksonville, FL, Grand Prix was born and raised in the county where they, “bang em’ and hang em,” maintaining a respectable life and graduating from Sandalwood High (which has become a feeding ground for local models, promoters, rappers and DJ’s). Upon completion of his high school career, he did what most practical young black men of our time did, he went to college… for the financial aid money (we’ve gotta get those rims on our cars some kinda way… that was a joke…). Pledging Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity at the University of North Florida and then transferring to complete his collegian career at Florida A&M all while releasing a few mixtapes to minor reception from the public.

 Prix discusses the title juice by brandonkolbyjacobs 

 Prix on finding hit records by brandonkolbyjacobs 

But perception seems to be something Prix has never concerned himself with… so he kept working. And he’s worked hard to get to where he’s at today, which is something he should be commended on. He has a very solid knowledge of the business and his writing skills were never questioned. What was questioned however was his ability to project those same words over the beat… in short, his flow has …

 Prix on the music economy by brandonkolbyjacobs 

I think I’ve been one of the few friends and business partners of Prix that has told him consistently in his career when I felt like something he put out was wack, rather than sparing his feelings. Me being polite is a disservice to our friendship, a waste of his time, beats he’s paid for, and the energy he’s exhausting to promote something that I KNOW won’t be successful. So I’ve tried to remain candid with him even when I knew others weren’t being as candid because in doing so they’d lose an artist who pays for his studio time ON TIME, will help promote for their events in a manner that any REAL promoter would appreciate, etc.

 Prix on Surviving the tough times by brandonkolbyjacobs 

But finally he’s moving in a positive direction, the flow is finally starting to come together and the music is becoming appealing. I’m proud of the homie Grand Prix and I have no doubt that the alliance with Back Door Music will be mutually beneficial. You can check out more of Grand Prix at www.grandprixmusic.com or follow Grand Prix on Twitter… @grandprixmusic!

 Discussing backdoormusic and the relationship with pointblank by brandonkolbyjacobs 

 Me and Prix on Vernon and Record Pools and Q45 as a Record Breaking DJ by brandonkolbyjacobs 

 Prix on New Blood, Ivory as a Rapper, and my Career by brandonkolbyjacobs

 Prix talks about Shot Out's Retirement by brandonkolbyjacobs 

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The Six Degrees of Vernon K (2012 Editorial)

The Six Degrees of Vernon K

By Brandon Kolby Jacobs

The Jacksonville music scene has always been an enigma…

Primarily because the majority of those in it seem to have some sort of family or social ties to one another. Samir manages the urban events at the Plush Entertainment Complex and happens to be Bigga Rankin’s nephew. Bigga stopped throwing bottles at me because he knew my sister Karla, who used to date Lil Bodie (Big Bodie’s little brother… and Big Bodie is a member of Bigga’s Cool Running’s Crew) not to mention Bigga knew my brother-in-law Materon aka David Thomas from around the way.

These sorts of intermingling connections can best be referred to as the Six Degrees of Separation or a Human Web. Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that everyone is on average approximately six steps away from any other person on Earth, so that a chain of, "a friend of a friend" statements can be made, on average, to connect any two people in six steps or fewer.

Such is the case with Vernon K. Johnson of D.I.M.E. (Dollars In Music Entertainment) who has been making moves in and around the Jacksonville scene of music and entertainment.

DJ Tru Story (left) Vernon K (right)

Entering the market as a promoter, Vernon's influence can clearly be seen. Allow me to elaborate:

I.                    Vernon K. Johnson- The CEO of D.I.M.E. and head of marketing for marketing for Lex Promotions in northern Florida

a.      Kandice Jacobs- Sister to former W.A.T.S./ New Blood Founder Brandon Kolby Jacobs who was a college friend of Vernon’s, helped in the early beginnings of D.I.M.E. 

Brandon & Kandice Jacobs

                                                              i.      Brandon Kolby Jacobs- Former CEO of New Blood Entertainment, former W.A.T.S. founder, former member of Team Tay Dizm, and Editor of brandonkolbyjacobs.com. Brandon was inspired to be involved in the music business by watching D.I.M.E. meetings that were conducted in his house.

1.      Rodger Reiter- Former assistant to Russell Simmons and Benjamin Chavis and Co-Founder of W.A.T.S. along with Brandon

The now highly recognizable photo of Rodger & Brandon @ TJs DJs in 2004

a.      Terri Sherman- A native of Jacksonville. Terri has worked in numerous capacities from working with Derek Washington of Upstart Entertainment, to managing artist, and general music consultation. Terri met Brandon through Rodger and obviously Brandon knew Vernon through Kandice and they all work every closely together now.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Swordz- Currently under Terri Sherman’s management. Vernon has also been influential in the resurgence of Swordz’s career.

b.      Grand Prix- Upon returning from Tallahassee, Grand Prix was introduced to Brandon through Rodger and Prix has gone on to form very strong business relationships with numerous members of this web, most recently Back Door Music…

Vernon K, Brandon Jacobs and Grand Prix @ the 2007 DJ Melange 

2.      D. Whiteboi- Integral part of the expansion of New Blood Entertainment into Jacksonville. D currently works in the studio where Chris Slade (Vernon’s Brother) records…

3.      Pat Benoit- Co-Founder of W.A.T.S. and former employee of TJ Chapman’s now defunked TJ’s DJ’s. Pat has promoted for many of the same artist as Vernon, due to their inter-related business partners in south Florida.

4.      Marcus Homer- A former Pointblank teen promoter, Marcus got his first opportunity to be the “front man” under New Blood Entertainment and their events. When Vernon called Brandon about potential promoters for his Twisted Sister Friday Night, Marcus was recommend. Marcus has gone on to retire, unretired, and retire again… all along leaving a slew of successful events in his path.

5.      Da Woodz Boyz- Breaking through into the college entertainment scene in 2008 (mostly by ruining Brandon’s event’s by throwing their free house parties on the same nights) the Woodz Boyz was a collection of popular men on campus who operated in many ways like a fraternity (with their own grip, their own stroll, etc). They aggressively made their mark until they disbanded in 2009. Before their breakup, the Woodz Boys threw one of the largest college parties in recent memory with Vernon at Twisted Sister.

The Woodz Boys in 2009 @ Lux

6.      UNF Greek Life- Because of the relationship between Brandon and Vernon many of the fraternities and sororities began to gravitate towards D.I.M.E. as has been shown by their ability to maintain a very solid portion of the college market in attendance of their events. D.I.M.E. currently has events with all members of NPHC on UNF’s campus at their new Friday night location-- Tera Nova.

b.      Chris Slade- Being the brother of Vernon speaks for itself. Chris has released several mixtapes over the course of his career with mixed reviews. Partu the Cool was released in the spring 2010 with very positive reviews across the board.

Chris Slade (left) and DJ 151 (right)

c.       Maurice- Longtime friend of Vernon’s who has been a significant figure in D.I.M.E. and partnering company Wallstreet Promotions. Maurice also worked for as a founding member of the original makeup of Point Blank Entertainment.

Wallstreet (left) and Maurice (right)

d.      Wall Street- Partnering company with D.I.M.E., founder Ben Parker has also, like Maurice, been a long time friend and one of the founding members of Point Blank.

e.      Point Blank is viewed as the dream of Ivory Orr, but many people who have come and gone make up Point Blank’s legacy. Point Blank is now arguably the largest and most successful promotion company in Jacksonville… a company that Vernon had a significant hand in during its beginnings.

                                                              i.      Ivory Orr- CEO of Point Blank, Ivory and Vernon went to college together at UNF where the entertainment aspirations began.

Ivory & His Wife in 2005

1.      Pretty Ricky- Originally coming from a dance background, Ricky began is promotional career under D.I.M.E. and later moved to Point Blank where he has become a prolific DJ and manager in his own right.

a.      Back Door Music- Like Point Blank, Back Door Music, is a collection of members of the entertainment community brought together by Pretty Ricky.

b.      Yung Trap- Managed by Pretty Ricky, many say Yung Trap is the hottest rapper in Jacksonville, second only to the currently incarcerated Young Cash.

(from left to right) Ivory, Yung Trap, Young Cash, and T. Pain

2.      Leo Moxley- The apprentice to Ivory, Leo has unquestionably made a significant impact through his ability to reclaim a college market that was at one point turning away from the Point Blank events.

3.      J-Floyd- A crucial member of the Point Blank camp as it stands today, J-Floyd (along with Roger For Mayor) fill the void that was left in Maurice’s departure from Point Blank.

4.      Rude Boy DJ’s- Helmed by DJ Rick Rude (who is the brother of one of Ivory’s “Chosen Few” group members) they have made their mark by breaking into the clubs through Point Blank events.

                                                            ii.      Roger For Mayor- One of the few surviving members from the original collection of Point Blank Entertainment, Roger played basketball at EWC and has since established himself as an infallible member of the Point Blank family.

                                                          iii.      Chris Francisco- One of the initial business partners of Ivory Orr in the structuring of Point Blank Entertainment. Chris has also been the president of the alumni committee of the University of North Florida

                                                           iv.      DJ D-Money- Another original member of PBE, D-Money has gone on to a successful career in his own right.

1.      Fireman DJ’s- A collection of Northside DJ’s who got their start in the strip clubs and working under D-Money in major venues. They have since become members of the Cool Runnings DJ’s that Vernon is known to service music to.

2.      DJ Cap

                                                             v.      DJ 151- A close friend to both Ivory and Vernon. 151 left Point Blank in 2009 to focus more on his career and has since moved on to pursue his goals in California.

f.        DJ Tru Story- DJ for many of Vernon’s events, a DJ for numerous Woodz events in their hay day, Tru Story hails from Detroit, but has made Jacksonville his home and has grown to be very successful.

Clearly, Vernon’s impact cannot be denied and as seen here, many people owe their careers, their business relationship, etc to knowing Vernon in some capacity or another… this is just a small example of his influence.  Much like the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon, there’s no question that when it comes to Jacksonville, FL., there’s definitely only 6 degree to get to Mr. Vernon K…

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The Book of L: The Memoirs....

"I want you to know that I'm telling this story with nothing but love in my heart, pride in my soul for what you've accomplished and admiration for what you'll become. You're special... even in your anger you're special. In every word, action and deed (including those missteps on my part), know that for me, love has always been there. And sometimes, professing it publicly can bring forth a healthy resolution... no matter if it brings forth a con conclusion or not."- From Brandon to L-Boogie

You would think there would be more photos
of L and I together, but there aren't. This was
the first and last pic we ever took together.
That was a good day...

It was never a pondered thought to affirm the relationship between the two of us way back when it first started. Looking back on it now, I still don't see what others saw... I mean, L was, is and will always be a very beautiful girl. I mean she has the striking features that I see, just like many of you see them. But I just never saw her that way. She was the pretty home girl to me...

But the public thought something different, but we knew what it was. L was an amazing fri.... fuck that, L was my sister... and I miss her... I miss her like I miss certain things about Amber. I miss her smile, I miss her laugh, but most of all... I miss her love. L met me through my ADP Nelson... who told me if I ever needed anything, just call L and she'll take care of it. One day I needed to change my clothes and sure enough, L was right there to get me what I needed. I had never experienced this blind sort of support... coming from where I came from you don't get that kind of support. But L provided me that and in that, I made a promise, "you'll never have to worry about anything as long as you live. I got you." The funny thing about that is I didn't know how much I meant that at the time, but she'd hold me emotionally accountable for those words...

As time went on Lauren and I were inseparable. "Big Brother" is what she called me. Wanted to find Brandon, call L... she'll know where he is... he's probably with her. Want to find L... call Brandon, she's probably asleep on his couch if it's a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. So may drunken cookouts... so many sleep overs... any woman who ever talked to me had to get to know L first... a benefit in some instances and an inevitable pitfall in others. I never wanted, nor did I anticipate that there would ever come a time where the dynamics of our relationship with one another would change. But I suppose where I came up short was in two aspects:

1. I just assumed no matter what happened, be it right or wrong that Lauren would side with me. I was the big brother for goodness sake... who could be more amazing in here eyes than me? Who did she love more than Brandon Kolby Jacobs? Nobody... right?

2. There was no separation in relationships. She was a part of all of my relationships with everyone... which ultimately in my opinion is what led to us being where we are with each other today... silent

When a mirror gets broken, you can fix that... when a relationship is broken, sometimes you can fix it and sometimes.... you never get it back... Now I dealt with quite a few of the folks that Lauren was friends with, but I find one in particular when I view things in retrospect to be the one that was probably the worst decision I made. That is not a reflection on the young lady, but the timing and reasoning made that entire situation just wrong on so many different levels. And I had lost Amber (the first time) and was starting to unravel. I looked for support from Lauren that I didn't receive and I resented her for that... perhaps she thought I was being dramatic (she wouldn't have been the only one), perhaps she thought I was making it all up, that the suicide attempt was a plea for the attention I simply wasn't getting as Brandon Kolby Jacobs and it was all in a self indulging attempt to be seen. For the first time ever, maybe L didn't like who I was. What I can tell you L is that I am many things... including a liar... but I don't gain anything in ruining my life... and I don't enjoy having to take these to keep my memory, sleep, stop from seizing on a floor and just be remotely normal...

L and I would go dark for most of 2010 and wouldn't sit down for a conversation until the middle of 2011. We hashed out the things that had divided us up to that point, but had to agree to disagree on certain subjects. Regardless of that fact, we were able to move past it all and move forward. That wouldn't last long...

And now it's been a little over two years since I last saw Lauren... so rather than expressing myself in writing I think she needs to hear me say this...

Lauren, I can't change what's happened and I can't even change how you feel inside or what you believe... only you can do that. But you my girl... and no amount of time, no ill words, no tweets, no silent treatment, nothing will change that. We're family... I'm always your brother.. here for you always... yours in life and death.

 

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Domestic Violence... How Do We Get Here... Blood On The Walls... And Where Do We Go Once The Blood Dries....

First of all, I want to make the point that I grew up in a house with a father, with three sisters and with a mother... so the psychological excuse of, "my daddy wasn't there to teach me how to be a man" or "I didn't know any better isn't an excuse for me." I think this is important because rather than providing the general assessment of you should never hit a woman (which should go without saying) isn't really the answer. The real answer is about managing frustration, understanding your anger, and all parties being mature enough to disagree, but doing so in a respectful way in addition to any emotional or psychological assistance one may need if they grew up in an environment that lends to this sort of behavior being okay. But how did I get here? Let me tell you the story...

I've touched this paper maybe a hundred times in the last
8yrs... still brings back those feelings of love...

To understand what happened on the day in 2005, when everything went south you have to understand what the relationship was like in the beginning...

She (because I want to respect her right to privacy, but still be able to tell the story) was an amazing person. She was beautiful, she was passionate, she was ready to take on the world. And we did that... together. We moved at a very young age in an effort to declare our undying and unwavering love for one another... and to spite her mother. But the move, my growth as a person, my pursuits of stardom in New Blood Entertainment led to me becoming a man she despised... and rightfully so. She took a lot of inappropriate behavior from me, moved out on her own and we still dealt with one another on a semi-daily basis... it was very much so the proverbial, "we not together, but we still together" sort of behavior. Time went on and she found someone else... and rightfully so. She deserved to be happy with someone else, but like I was with my situation she wasn't being completely honest with me. It wasn't until recently that I found out that she knew when I took my trip to Fayetteville, NC that I was going for work, but had every intention on having sex with another woman (I had been planning it for months) and of all of the women and of all of the indiscretions, that would be the one that would sound the bell in her mind to end the relationship. And so I went to Fayetteville and emotionally, she had left me...

She was gone when I came back with a note on the table... I drank a lot that night and the nights that followed... I wondered the streets of Tallahassee trying to find her... not literally, but emotionally I was lost without her, but it was my own doing that led to the feelings I had, but I was too weak to hold myself accountable... so it was just easier to blame her... Eventually we'd talk again, but it just wasn't the same. So I moved into a new complex, but decided it was best to go home for a semester. In coming to that conclusion she and I agreed that she would take my place in my apartment for the semester and when I came back, we'd discuss getting back together. Something that would never come to pass after a discovery I'm sure in hindsight, we'd both prefer had never gone down that way....

I was moving her stuff into the house when I found out that she had been with someone else... and I wish I could say more, but all I can say is I found out in a way that you never want to find something like that out. She was sitting on top of the dresser and I was sitting at the desk when I uncovered the information... and I don't know why... I can't explain, nor do I want to try and justify it, but I jumped from the chair and placed my hands around her throat... shocked and confused she attempted to fight back and was able to hit me hard enough to get me to stumble. When she realized what I had found out, she headed for the door... but she didn't make it. I hit her several times in a complete fit of rage and as blood was splattered on the walls (mostly hers from what I believe was a busted nose or lip) she finally got the strength up to grab a Mango perfume bottle and crack me over the head with it. I think she was hoping that would do me in, but it didn't... it only enraged me further and grabbed her by her face and pushed her head into the drywall. Disoriented and emotionally wounded she collapsed and I went into the walk in closet (that was connected to the bathroom) and pulled all her clothes off the hangers. No, I didn't throw them out the door... I took all of her clothes, put them in the tub and turned the hot water on... blending all the colors together and ruining her clothes. She cried and begged me to stop, but I was lost... she's since told me that morning as that was going on that I looked like I had no soul when  I looked at her... I can't remember... Her statement in the police report says I attempted to drown her... again, I can't tell you if that's true or not. All I know is that when it was all over and she was gone from the house and I was alone, there was holes in the walls and blood smeared on the floor and on the walls leading from the bedroom to the front door.

I gave her a concussion and fractured her wrist... but it isn't about that... and regardless of what she did that many people have tried to tell me was completely justifiable for me to be that enraged, I have to hold myself accountable. You see, it's not about what happened that day that may or may not be justified... it's about the abuse she suffered on a day in and day out basis from me, which I wasn't taught in the house I grew up in, that was the real issue. You see, the fight that day doesn't happen if I treated her better, if I respected our relationship, if I wasn't so arrogant as to think I have the right to do my thing and she can't do the same... she's not my property... she's a human being! Knowing my prior record for assault and battery on people in general, she didn't press charges... some might feel that was a bad decision, but what it forced me to do was live... on a daily basis with the decisions I made. I've thought about that day every day since... I'm ashamed of myself and what I did that day because there's simply no excuse. I should've been man enough to leave if I was that hurt and that upset. No person ever deserves to be attacked in that way and I despise myself for what I did that day and I've sworn to manage myself and my anger and to become a better person because of it. 

And so people have asked me for years why I love working with the Hubbard House so much, why I find aiding women of domestic violence is important... why anger management, therapy in the black community, marriage counseling, and relationship evaluation is so important... because I am a culprit of domestic violence and it is my charge and life long responsibility to serve those women, to caution men of their actions and to ensure what I did to my ex never happens to another woman. To have three sisters and the amazing mother that I have makes what I did that day even more of a shame... and my mother has never bashed me, nor have my sisters... there was never a need to. I knew of my own personal morals that regardless of if other may feel that my actions were justified given the circumstances... I know.... I know what I did was wrong. Fellas, I hope this opens your eyes to some things, maybe gives you some perspective and ladies... always evaluate your relationships... never sacrifice what you feel you deserve or what you feel like is "as good as it gets" because thinking like that reinforced bad behaviors and domestic violence can be physical, psychological, or emotional... know yourself, know your mate and everyone lets hold ourselves accountable. I'm grateful to my ex (who has been able to forgive me and move on... and I thank her for that... as she's a really good person) for being so forgiving and allowing me the opportunity to learn from my mistake on this side of the jail bars so that I can hopefully help someone else. Have a good day yall...

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Help Me... We're Lost... By Request...

I was told to blog this morning after a collection of events led to a pointless argument today....
Well maybe it wasn't completely pointless, because for me I felt it was necessary because I just got fucking tired...
Let me say it quite simply, I've cheated and lied to women...
One woman in particular...
And it doesn't matter if it was simply emotional infidelity or physical, I've done my dirt...
I'm not going to speak on what has or hasn't been done that led me to do what I've done, but as I've said, the things I've done to hurt women... and one woman in particular isn't something I'm very proud of...
It's just a part of the things that lead me to be exactly who I am at this moment in this place at this time.
She gets a lot of what she considered to be useless e-mails, text messages, and written correspondence from me...
It's because I'm bad at having a face to face confrontation with her because I don't like to, I don't feel like I'm getting my point across, she constantly accuses me based on old shit (be it recent old shit or really old ass old shit) and I feel like that for as much as her opinions and hurt feelings deserved to be put into consideration that the same isn't done for me...

And I've been hurt too...
So today to her I was petty...
To me, I just had gotten to the point where I had enough...
Because I show up everyday, I put in work, I try, I spend money I don't have, travel places I don't have to go for my own personal gain, do things that I don't particularly want to do... FOR HER...
Because I love her and always want her to do well and be well...
I want to see her succeed, with or without me...
But when someone is constantly nagging you...
Questioning your motives...
Where you are...
What you're doing...
And so on...
Even if the initial reasoning for them being that way is legitimate, after a while you just want them to decide if they're not going to forgive you enough not to bash you over the head with it every time they get angry, use it to justify talking to you rudely, etc then they should just let you go...

You should never be with someone just because you like what you like...
You better damn well know...
And you better damn well tell them from time to time to give them hope for the future...
And a complete change in personality and behavior contrary to the historical takes time...
Your man better damn well want you...
If not someone else will...
And if you're not meeting your man's needs...
If you're refusing any sense of emotional compromise because you feel like it's deserved based on poor decisions he's made and your aspirations to be a better you as an individual then maybe you need to leave him alone until you're ready to be there...
No one has the right to be part time in a relationship with full time rules...
And that's what I feel like today...

I'm supposed to not talk to anyone else...
No look at anyone else...
Not have a questionable joke on my social mediums...
And so on....
But I don't feel any kind of anything that resembles love or appreciate for me and what I do...
AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SEX!!!
I think any man worth his weight wants to pleasure and be pleasured by a woman...
But if you can't stop and acknowledge when your significant other does something FOR YOU...
If you can't sometimes bow out (not down) to avoid a conflict and look at somethings and say, "it's not that deep. He doesn't mean me any harm. Let me not blow this dumb shit out of proportion"...
If you're determined to be disagreeable right down to a simple mistake like some keys being left on the table...
Why would your man want to be around you?
Even if he has done wrong...
Because if you're gonna let him continue to be there, you have to make the decision to be there yourself...
And if you can't... then don't...
But if you can't see it...
If it's not yet clear...
I'm asking for your help...

PS- You asked me to blog cynically because you thought I was gonna present some cultivated thought process where I'd make the world believe I'm innocent... well I'm not.... I'm not without fault... I'm flawed... I've lied (REPEATEDLY), I've been emotionally absent, told inappropriate jokes when I was with you and the list can go on. But I'm trying... you're not making this easy... and I'm not the only one with an issue here...
I'm not going to prod you, harass you, antagonize you... I left you today not just because I'm childish... I know myself... and if you call me taking you back where I found you childish then so be it, but I'm not going to lose my cool and harm you, do something irresponsible myself, etc and not be able to take it back. I'm not all talk... I've been involved in actions I'm not proud of and just because you're angry, I'm angry, you've never seen me do it, you've listened to some fool who led you to believe I won't, and you're not old enough to have lived when I did it doesn't mean that doesn't exist in me... So I did what was best. Childish is a constant behavior, you'll have it in you until your 40... doesn't make you any less of an adult... same applies to me. We can only hope to be better today than we were yesterday... And I'm trying... today my patience just wore thin...

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