I've come to the conclusion that I am a Reality TV freak! Monday through Friday, I am watching some show, from The Biggest Loser, From G's to Gents, For the Love of Ray J, America's Best Dance Crew, Harlem Heights (which I am liking enough right now to stop by BET boycott momentarily) and last but not least, Making the Band 4. I have a love/hate relationship with this show. Why? Because Diddy (I absolutely admire his entrepreneurial skills) just drags the show on too long. I need them to make a decision about this dog-gone group Danity Kane. They are dragging this storyline so much that I just wish that they edit them out of the show. I'm quoting Steve Harvey right now ("We all know what its bout! Bring on the water!). Come on already....Geez...
I love watching the guys, Day26...I think that they have some of the best voices out there. But this past episode really made me notice something and not for the good. As of right now, the guys' contract are in the process of being negotiated, and until the negotiations are finalized, they can't record in the studio, book shows, etc. In other words, these guys aren't making any money...and they are feeling the PINCH. Haven't you heard? It's a recession!
One of my favorite members, Que, was really having some problems. He stated that he didn’t have a father and he had to take care of his family because he was the man in the household. MTV then cut to a clip of him talking to his mother, explaining to her why he didn’t have any money. I got the impression from the conversation that she was asking him for some. As he explained to his fellow band mates what was going on, my heart went out to him. His mother quit her job, the family was in the process of moving into a new home and his sister was at home. He went on to explain that with this launch of their first CD, he never got a real chance to spend his money the way he wanted to; he was taking care of his family instead. He has the whole weight of his family on his shoulders at the young age of 20! All I could think about was, “it’s not your responsibility, Que!” I understand that you’re making a living in the music industry, but your mother is a grown woman, and if you weren’t in the music industry, she wouldn’t have quit her job…she would still be working. I loved when Brian told him that it wasn’t his responsibility. Now Que is all stressed out about money when he should be relaxing and enjoying this time in his life (note to Diddy: hurry up and pay these guys…please!).
This reminds me of when you see some of the guys that just make it in the NFL or NBA; they come from nothing…then all of a sudden they have more money in a matter of weeks than they have seen in their entire lives.
Sportscaster: What are you going to do now Johnny now that you've made it to the NFL?
Johnny: First thing I'm doing is buying my mama a house and a car...
Family, friends and others that you vaguely remember come out of the woodwork, with stories of hard times, business plans that is going to make everybody blow up and putting guilt trips on the newly rich: “You wouldn’t be where you were if it weren’t for me…” If these guys were in any other profession like doctors, lawyers or engineers would people still be coming at them for handouts? Are they really obligated to help people out financially and what is the limit to which they should help people. These men and women help out so much to the point that they don’t have anything for themselves and then they are forced to work extra hard to maintain the lifestyle…and that’s not fair to them. I know of one NFL player from my area that bought his mother and sister a house, cars and gave them monthly allowances. When he got cut from his team, he was unable to get signed to another team, and now he’s broke…but his mom and sister got theirs…
How much is too much? Why should you feel obligated? Your parents made the choice to bring you into this world and take care of you…Anything else that you do for them is extra. Now I’m not saying cut them off totally, but I think you should do what you can within reason. If you WANT to take care of their every need then by all means, go ahead. But I don’t feel like you HAVE to do so. That just creates a monster in the long run that can destroy families (because I believe that family/friends & money is/are a horrible cocktail). Am I wrong for feeling that way?
But back to Que…take care of yourself, homey. Your money is coming…just remember that the music industry is fickle as hell, so use your money wisely and invest it properly…in other words, make your money work for you now, so you don’t have to work for it later…
**photo of the NFL draft is used for illustrative use only…I don’t know those guys and I don’t know if they got their family on payroll…LOL!**
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