Dear Tameka,
I read your Global Grind blog yesterday. It was interesting. You made some great points about the well-orchestrated machine that is ‘fame’. However, as I read the piece, I began to have some questions – one really – And I decided I would risk the now infamous Tameka Foster-Raymond Blogger Backlash to ask it. How can one continue to spew such disdain for fame, yet continue to seek it?
Allow me to explain.
In your blog, you mentioned your fourteen year career as a stylist for the likes of several celebrities. Now I won’t get too deep into this but tell me, how many doctors/engineers/fire fighters/lawyers do you have to ‘style’ to afford the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed? You also mentioned your ‘surprise’ at the ‘fame fanatics who go to such great lengths to garner attention’…I found this ironic as I read this line on an open-letter posted on one of the largest websites on the internet. You Tameka, are a hypocrite. Your ‘grown-woman’ is not genuine. And it’s becoming annoying.
Who sells their wedding photos to Essence? Who puts their four-month-old son on the cover? Who pays a celebrity photographer to shoot them then sick’s their ‘people’ on every blogger, threatening them not to publish the unflattering photos? #WheretheydoTHATat? Yet, you’re above fame? I think not.
You are no better than the man who’s ‘ready to sign them papers’, the only difference is his opus is kind of catchy while yours was rambling, elitist and self-serving.
Why does this bother me so? Because I cannot respect anyone who continually complains about the system that feeds them, yet chooses to remain within it. And fame is feeding you and your five children.
Oh it’s not? How much money do you think your first husband – a record exec – would’ve have made in the industry, had it not been for the ‘fame’ of his artists? How much money would Usher have now if we’d never heard of him?
This is the equivalent of deciding to walk away from a fight, claiming to be the bigger person, but throwing continual kicks behind you as you leave. If you are going to put ‘God, family, morals, and over just plain ol’ fashioned common sense’ first, then do that. But don’t continue to sit in your three-story penthouse (that Usher’s fame built) and look down your nose at this game of smoke and mirrors, and claim to be above it. Because you’re not. If you were, when you heard the song, you would’ve quietly called your lawyer or better yet you would’ve called your husband. But someone seeking to rectify anything privately doesn’t call Russell Simmons.
So please Tameka, let’s stop this charade. Let’s cease pretending that you truly desire this life of quiet anonymity. Your real problem with the same well-orchestrated machine that kept you on private jets, red carpets and coveted guest lists was that it eventually turned on you. It happens to the best of us Tameka. Take it like a woman.
Now go sit quietly and think about this.
With love,
well done
nuff said.
This part right here
“You are no better than the man who’s ‘ready to sign them papers’, the only difference is his opus is kind of catchy while yours was rambling, elitist and self-serving.”
GENIUS!
Excellent. Simple & Plain.
Speechless!
You rocked that
Wow. I never thought of it that way, TFG.
I don’t personally pay attention to Tameka, but reading all this, I do have to say that anyone seeking real anonymity will try their best to stay OUT of the light.
I know about her and Usher. I don’t know DMX’s wife. I don’t know LL’s wife. I don’t know how many kids these guys got. If she really wanna be this way, why am I seeing wedding pictures?
And why did she (allegedly) keyed Usher’s car? No person not seeking attention would be behaving this way.
I can’t add anything to the argument, so all I can say is pretty good read.
This was great! I didn’t see her blog on Global Grind, and I don’t really feel a need to..
Well no where in the written piece was it stated that fame was a BAD thing, the issue my love is the lengths and the lows that sadly one must go to in order to MAINTAIN it. Fame is a beautiful thing and yes it pays well for so many, however to compromise your Moral fiber for it is not OK.
I love fame and the famous, and have since I was a little girl. I am not hypocritical in that regard. Yet, the idea of one making music or disparaging someone that they clearly love is deplorable maam. You take much issue with me and I’m not sure as into why… hmmm perhaps it’s based off of things you have read from your follow bloggers. Don’t believe the hype. Hype is indeed what it all is. FYI: I have NEVER sold a photo to any site, blog, or magazine. That’s unnecessary and not characteristic of me. Perhaps I should unblock so you can learn more about my true “character” as opposed to what you assume. Have a good night.
Tameka – Here’s where we agree, though the song is catchy, it is in poor taste. I have maintained that from jump. However – and this is the very point I was trying to make – just because HE is in poor taste for airing his thoughts publicly, so are YOU for responding in kind. I have read all of your blogs. I’ve read your interviews and unlike some of my fellow bloggers (not all) I did give you a fair shot (I explain my position on this here http://www.flystylelife.com/2009/09/did-we-give-tameka-foster-raymond-a-fair-shot/ ).
But I also am yet to see you publicly take ANY responsibility for any public perception. And after a while it becomes frustrating.
Now whether you unblock me or not is your choice. I have never attacked you, nor would I. I simply call the truth as I see it. If I have pegged you wrong, I invite you to sit down for an interview. But either way, whether this ends here or you guys continue to sing/blog back and forth, there is no ‘better’ if WE are seeing it. That was and still is my only point.
Be well.
*Gucci Mane voice* Well damn!
I read Tameka’s blog and response to your blog; she writes too many unnecessary words for me to understand what she’s talking about. TFG – you made excellent points; I hope that she is able to understand there are some things we just dont NEED to know.
very well said! and that new pic circulating of her in front of Jeezy isn’t a good look for her either…
I applaud you. This was very well written. You bring up very valid points.
Whether Ms. Raymond agrees or not about the antics, gimmicks, etc., that others use to “stay relevant,” your assessment that it has kept her “fed” is absolutely correct. She really cannot have it both ways. She states she loves fame and the famous. Well they are performers, it’s a form of art, no matter how they express themselves. Ms. Raymond’s idea of a “low” might be another person’s idea of a “high” – it’s just a matter of one’s own opinion. Ms. Raymond seems to fail to realize that whether she has sold or unblocked photos/stories for publication, it still amounts to the same thing, her “staying relevant.”
bravo for maintaining the high ground and not taking the bait she left hanging there for you.
I’ve had a few brief Twitter conversations with Tameka Raymond and she is very smart but her blogs are wearing thin(on me)…she talks around she words just as she read around our point…Ushers new single IS in bad taste, but what did she or we expect when she “allegedly” left a bad taste in his mouth (no pun intended). Their whole courtship up to and during the wedding was A HOT MESS…SO we can only expect the same with this divorce. Usher needs to remember that music sticks around FOREVER and this is evidence to his children of their fathers feelings towards their mom…at least that is where Tameka was smart in her latest blog to talk around her point with her words but we as adults and fans of Usher knew EXACTLY what she meant.
In my opinion…Tameka take the high road and just hush! Usher be careful with ur choice in lyrics for ur songs they will come back and bite u in the end.(pun intended)
Tameka the photo of you looking at Jezzy with an alcoholic drink in your hand is depictable. No one can tell you from the other groopies in the club -the same people who you blog about. What will your children think when they see that photo?
Tameka we must not love fame and the famous as you stated because then you too will become a victim of it.
WELL PUT, This Bitch is a Fame Whore!
This is a woman who is “emotionally retarded,” When I say that, I’m not trying to be funny. She has been emotionally scarred as a child and her emotional growth has not progressed into adulthood. It would be wise if she would get help. She needs this growth and therapy so that the children may grow in that regard. I wish her luck.
You told her! This open letter was well written, and you made some great points as well, without all of the unnecessary , grammatical inflation. Thank you much.
“to compromise your Moral fiber for it is not OK.”
Wasn’t Tameka still married when she started messing with Usher??? Doesn’t that count as compromising your Moral fiber for Fame???