In 1991, I fell in love with hip-hop.

In 1997, I fell in love with DC area hip-hop.

I fell in love with the fact that there were artists in my own backyard that were just as talented as the majors I saw on The Box video channel all day. I fell in love with the few DC area rap artists that made it to The Box, such as Black Indian, Section 8 Mob, Earthquake, and many more.

I fell in love with seeing posters all over the city from groups like Hood Life Money, 2 Face the Don, and Nitti & Gotti.

I fell in love with grabbing the Washington City Paper and learning about events such as Freestyle Union or shows at the State of the Union, and seeing ads from producers such as Judah advertising their beats in the Music section for free.

I fell in love with the overall artistic expression of our local hip-hop scene.

Last night at the DMV Awards, I became a lover scorned.

To see the fights break out last night hurt my heart. Hurt my soul. Just….hurt. To look down from the stage and see what was taking place was surreal. Never in my nearly 14 years of attending events in this area have I ever seen such an act of “niggerdom” take place.  I know my use of the word may be harsh to some, but the horrendous acts those ignorant individuals committed are even more harsh than any word I could ever use in the English language.

What hurts even more is that the view and thoughts by many that these artists have tainted the scene for the other artists. I’m here to say those acts last night was not that of artists…those were the acts of niggers. A true artist respects everything about their craft and values the recognition given to them. An artist does not act that way. A nigger does.

An artist respects another artist when performing on stage and gives them full attention.  A nigger doesn’t.

An artist gives love to another artist in their awards category, even if they lost to them. A nigger doesn’t.

An artist does what is needed to get their craft out to masses beyond this area so the world can see the positive their local music scene has to offer. A nigger doesn’t.

The act of an artist should not be confused with the act of a nigger, which is what the local media and even other artists on Twitter, Facebook, etc are doing. ARTISTS DID NOT MESS UP THE AWARDS LAST NIGHT! NIGGERS DID!

The act of an artist are people like Gods’Illa, who grinded for over a decade to get what they deserved and even created their own platform to be heard with their Up and Up Open Mic.

The act of an artist are people like Kokayi and Carolyn Malachi who received worldwide recognition with their Grammy nominations, but still came out to show love to the DMV Awards.

The act of an artist are people like The Supafunkregulata DJ Celo who has put his job on the line many times just to support the local music scene.

The act of an artist, are people like the countless female emcees in this area that balance music and motherhood, and still are able to dedicate to both 110%.

The act of an artist is that 13 year old girl I met at the awards Saturday night that rapped for me with no hesitation…and she was dope!! But it breaks my heart to know that little 13 year old girl’s first impression of the area music scene was having to see the acts of niggers, not of artists.

To all of my artists out there, don’t let this discourage you. Don’t let the media say that it is the artists fault that this incident happened.  Don’t’ let other artists say it’s the artists fault. DON’T LET ANYONE DISCREDIT YOUR CRAFT BECAUSE OF THE ACTS OF NIGGERS! Don’t give up on this music scene. As long as there are true artists, the scene can never die. If go-go can remain with all the trouble it’s scene has faced with violence, then the universal sounds of hip-hop can remain as well.

Use what happened as motivation. Use it to make you stronger. Use it to work harder on your lyrics. Use it to work harder on your stage performances. Use it to create more artistic videos. Use it to show the word that a group of niggers can NOT shut down the talent of a movement of true artists.

To Dre All Day In Da Paint, Natasha Brown, the staff of the awards, the participants, the nominees, the performers, the attendees, the Hyatt staff…to EVERYONE!! Your work was not in vain. OUR work was not in vain. The work of true art and creativity is NEVER in vain. Do not allow the negative actions of a few self-genocide, Willie Lynch, self-hating NIGGERS take away ANY and EVERY thing you have ever accomplished. As I stated on Twitter last night…We can’t let the negative actions of a few effect the positive work of many. Positive Energy Always Creates Elevation. And the true positive work of true positive artists will make sure that our local music scene continues to elevate. PEACE.

-DJ Heat