Cry Me A River!

So apparently Chris Brown is still pleading to fans to support him because he is being black balled by American Radio. Aww pobrecito! Right, Chris Brown went on a fan appreciation tour about a year ago. This tour was “for his fans” that have been supporting him. Let me tell you what fan appreciation mean and what it doesn’t mean.

IT DOES NOT MEAN charging between $75.00 to $300.00 a ticket to come your show that is about fan appreciation. If you want to appreciate me, make the dang thing free. It does not mean going to a school and speaking for 15 minutes, but not allowing the kids to touch you or take a picture with you. But you show up to satisfy your community service. If you want to appreciate me, invite them to your concert so they can have an experience they would not be able to afford, or how about a picture and/or an autograph Mr. Brown.

Chris Breezy (and I mean that literally) came through Washington DC on his tour. Now its no secret that most artists fair pretty well in the Washington DC Market. I have heard many artists say that D.C. is a cash cow when it comes to spending disposable income on things like entertainment and fashion. Unfortunately, the District is slow to support their own, but that’s another subject entirely (coming soon). Nonetheless, when it comes to major artists and celebrities, Washington D.C. shells out the bucks. ANYWAY, Chris Brown comes into Washington DC and has his “Fan Appreciation Tour” (read above paragraph again for my feelings on that). He is scheduled to make an appearance at one of Washington D.C.’s premiere hot spots. The media is invited out to get some shots and document the event. Of course, the media is snubbed. This does bring up another point. Why is Washington D.C. Media treated with such hesitation and reluctance? Events in New York and Los Angeles, the media is welcomed so much more differently, but that too is another subject (coming soon). At any rate, media is instructed to put away their cameras because Chris Brown doesn’t want any photography. Of course, the club’s house photographer is exempt. Excuse me, I didn’t come to party or be a Chris Brown groupie. I came to work. But hold up, isn’t it Chris that is crying about how the Media is “Doing Him Dirty.” But independent media is asked to put their cameras away. So let me make sure I understand this. We aren’t E! or TMZ so we need to stifle our cameras. However it is E! and TMZ that is eating your ASSets alive. Independent media is the ones pushing and supporting you (you know the reason for the tour in the 1st place – “APPRECIATION”).

So let’s continue. I am standing in this overcrowded VIP being pushed back and forth and back and forth looking like a fool. I notice Chris Brown is doing everything in his power not to establish any eye contact with the camera. It was sort of like playing the child’s game: I Bet I wont Look. C’mon dude, really? It’s all good. It is definitely your choice; BUT DON’T CRY NOW. Don’t talk about how you are being snubbed by the media. You drew 1st blood. Worst, you snubbed the very person who helped secure your “afterparty” appearance that I’m sure wasn’t done out of Appreciation, but had money attached to it. You didn’t even take a quick snapshot (with the promoter) as you dodged up and down the back alley like Emmit Smith or Barry Sanders on the football field.

So you get another shot to show your “Appreciation” at BET Spring Bling 2010. But do we fans really care. Now truthfully, my “fan”dom is not that important. I’m not gonna’ run out and buy your album. The most you gonna’ get from me is when your song comes on the radio or your video comes on TV. I am not the fan you are talking to, I get that! But you’re not King of Virginia anymore. Trey Songz is the new king, and at Spring Bling, you may be shocked to learn that the women came to see him more than you (but you really shouldn’t be). In fact, as your stock plummet like Enron, his is rising like Google.

I was still in your corner until the tour however. That is when it all changed for me. See Chris Breezy, I gained so much more admiration and respect for T.I. when he toured the country. T.I. did free concerts and roller skating rings. T.I. talked to the kids and allowed the kids to touch him, and live in the moment. He spoke to the media big and small. That’s Fan Appreciation! As the song goes:

Your bridges were burned, and now it’s your turn to cry,
CRY ME A RIVER.

-Sick and Tired of being Sick and Tired