#TWENTIESTAUGHTYOU - The Definition of the word 'RETIRE'

The word "retire" has been tossed around pretty casually and at this point I'm convinced everyone is not possibly functioning under the same understanding of who deserves the right to retire. This is no urban dictionary revamp and I'm quite aware that defined by any other language reference retiring could be as simple as ending employment, but by hustler standards unless you're a senior citizen you gotta do a lot more than up and quit your job to respectfully retire. In practicing humility and even an ounce of common sense it's very important to recognize when you've earned the right to a grand retirement announcement before confusing everyone else on how they got involved. Feel free to give up or move on without putting in the hours to establish respect in your industry, but don't also feel like people are supposed to give a shit. I have to address this surge of early retirees because my agenda behind The TWENTIES is to constantly encourage people to their highest potential and this behavior is far from it. Let me preference this post by saying the following subjects of my observation are people I have absolutely nothing against, at some point I have even enjoyed their contributions to the entertainment industry, however both of these people have truly blindsided me with their recent claims to retirement. For that reason I thought this would be the perfect time to teach The TWENTIES a little bit about earning your announcements. 

CASE

STUDY I:

Shorty Da Prince

I recently moved back home to the DMV and Shorty Da Prince works as a radio personality on 93.9 WKYS. To clarify the following research are some quick Wikipedia ass facts, but it's mostly to give some context on what Shorty Da Prince has done thus far and why I'm thoroughly confused. He started his career working in radio at stations in his hometown of St. Louis and Detroit, MI before having a short stint on 106 & Park - in the trio of host from a nationwide search - just before they cancelled the whole show. Able to fall back on his background in radio, Shorty landed a spot on one of the top stations for Hip-Hop and R&B here in the DMV in the evenings from 7-10pm or midnight. All great opportunities and accomplishments for a young 28 year-old man and to my knowledge he's had a decent career in DC as a personality. Since being home I've heard him during his radio slot and periodically I'll catch him doing that annoying Fatman Scoop-ass on-air club hosting - that I personally hate - but I get it's a part of the radio rotation.

Three years into his job on 93.9, again one of the top if not THE TOP radio stations in the DMV area (and I think that's important to note), I tuned in the other day to hear him making a heartfelt announcement about his retirement from radio to pursue other endeavors. I guess for the sake of letting the people who follow his show know he was moving on, I understood the need to say something but my initial thought after hearing his soliloquy was "retire from radio to do what?" Then immediately questioned "well how long has he been on the radio?" only to find out he had just a few years under his belt. I don't know about every other city but the radio personalities in DC are staples in the entertainment structure and I swear they respectfully work the're way up the ranks FOR-EVER, so an on-air retirement is honestly rare and usually well-deserved. I didn't think so in this case. I'm in no way bashing him for wanting to pursue opportunities outside of radio, I'm a strong supporter and testimony of following your dreams but I couldn't help feeling that this retirement speech at 28 years of age, three years into the DMV radio gambit was a little unnecessary. Of course I felt hella judgmental, who am I to question someone else's career choices, oh but confirmation came in the morning. Well it was the following day but I was reassured that I wasn't the only person who considered the use of retirement in this situation a bit of a reach.  

I am not speaking on this person's behalf but by virtue of her story and our shared experience as HU Bison, I think I have a good gauge on her feelings based on the interview she conducted with him. Angie Ang, another radio personality for 93.9 WKYS with ten plus years of working her way up to Your Royal Hypeness, had Shorty on-air to speak more about his early departure from radio. There was just enough underlying shade to let me know I wasn't completely off-base. As I fully expected someone who has spent the amount of time Angie Ange has building up her reputation in radio she was just as confused and dismissive as I was, and she would clearly know more about his situation than I did. Aside from a few harmless digs throughout, the moment of subtle shade that signified Ange and I were on the same page was after his vague explanation of what was next after his radio departure. Without any concrete details on what he would be working on following his retirement, his version of a fallback plan which included returning to radio was one I couldn’t understand but furthermore the expectation and entitlement to what he would return to is what really blew my mind! I'm paraphrasing but basically his idea of just trotting back to radio was that he could host morning or something like Donnie Simpson.

DONNIE FREAKING SIMPSON!

So cavalier, so matter of fact like Donnie Simpson and those beautiful eyes haven't been on the radio for all my 29 years of life and pioneered the radio and television game. I remember when Donnie Simpson announced his retirement from radio when I was younger and the whole city was in mourning, I know I seen at least one person actually crying - DONNIE FREAKING SIMPSON - the audacity! That's when I knew this dude had no idea how crazy he sound, completely out of touch on how important it is to earn the right to a retirement instead of self-professing it before your time. Angie Ange quickly let him know "you gonna have to put in a lot more than three years to be a Donnie Simpson," and all I could say was PREACH!!!!!

CASE

STUDY II:

Tamar Braxton

I started off a true Tamar fan. Not to go as far as a Tamartian but I watched her glow up from Toni's little sister and Vince's wife on Braxton Family Values to belting out Love and War non-stop, feeling like "yesssss Tamar deserves to have her own moment in the spotlight." I was so excited to see her transition from background singer to solo artist, join an ensemble cast on daytime television and even become a reoccurring guest judge on one of my favorite reality competition shows to date Rupaul's Drag Race - I celebrated her success. Once Mama Ru gave her the stamp of approval it was confirmed for me that her bratty persona had worked to her advantage coupled with her ability to actually sing down and I was happy for her! After a while the over the top attitude and antics began to turn me off from her personally but there has never been a doubt in my mind that if all else failed, a hit album was always a possibility.

Seven years after debuting herself as a solo artist with Love and War, Tamar released her fifth studio album BlueBird of Happiness on Sept 29th, when she also announced that she would be retiring from the music industry. WHAAAAAA? How do you spend more years complaining about being a doo-wop-pop-pop chick than maximizing on your time as an actual star? Far be it for me to tell anyone that they don't deserve to take a long break especially under extreme circumstances, hell Lauryn Hill went into hiding for how many years? But this whole retirement mess just seems like another one of Tamar's dramatic cries for attention and so beneath her level of talent. I actually have a few bones to pick with Tamar at this point because like Tyra "I was rooting for you." Your older sister who you even refer to as 'Living Legend Toni Braxton' who if anyone has the right to retire after giving us a lifetime of classic music - although making questionable partner choices these days - still manage to put out Grammy winning hits and you have the nerve to beat her to the retirement punch. Toni from her own mouth deemed you the best vocalist of the Braxton sisters including herself and she still manages to supersede you musically because you've given up on yourself. It's a shame!

IT'S ALSO A PUBLICITY STUNT

But what I’m more disappointed about is the idea of Tamar throwing in the towel when she has all the tools she needs at her disposal, but lacks the resilience and confidence that she has attempted to personify through her over the top personality. It's not just about singing - which she hasn't been doing very much of lately - treating people kind, being accountable, responsible, then actually being talented all play a part in building professional sustainability. By the looks of things, and y'all can check me when I'm wrong, this retirement is her way of playing victim to the harmful circumstances she and her team have created around her brand. I'm sorry, whether it's the rumored financial problems with the label, her strained public relationship with her sisters (which she has had every part of continuing), people not wanting to work with her because of her well-documented bad attitude or improper management due to marital issues, something is going on that instead of facing she wants to avoid by claiming retirement and I'm not buying it! 

I knew something was up with these lip-sync ass performances she's been conducting all over the TV screen like the good Lord, Evelyn and Michael Sr. didn't bless her with pipes of a true vocalist, this confirmed to me that she’s lost the focus and drive required for being the STAR she asked to be. Then to top matters off, Tamar using the state of her marriage as the excuse for her decision to make this silly titled album with no hit singles her "last album" is such a cop out. Moment of truth if any of these lawsuit rumors are factual, this is the time to be dropping music and touring like crazy, putting the family on your back and not running for cover. Tamar is a very talented singer but as the saying goes, "hard work beats talent, when talent stops working" and it seems to me that you just don't want to work for the solo superstar lifestyle you thought you wanted. That's really ok, but don't think your departure from music is worthy of a send off -  Chileeeeee wedontcare.com! 

CONCLUSION

Don't ever let short-term success, fear in your abilities or failure force you into giving up on something prematurely. We are young! Allowed to make moves, makes mistakes, capable of picking ourselves up from adversity, using those lessons to prepare ourselves for the fruits of greatness once it comes but until then lose your entitlement. Showing up is half the battle so you don't get kudos for being present, or a pat on your back for your contribution - that's what your supposed to do. Show up everyday no matter what the job is and offer your best self to the greater goal. Everyday should be an effort to build a reputation worthy of a retirement; putting in the work, earning those stripes, gaining the respect of your peers, only then can you act like everyone else is supposed to care that you've decided to call it quits. The best indicator that you've become someone that deserves to retire, someone who has earned the right to be revered upon departure is when people feel that way for you instead of proclaiming it for yourself.