Spring Break Party With Everyone
As the weekend hits where we’d normally be hosting the show, we thought we should share some WiLDsplash memories. That cover pic is one of my favorite years, when DMX came home from jail. It was 2011 and no one was booking him yet. Even when we reached out to our label people, there were more questions than answers. All we heard was “Dog wanna work!” People were leery about if he would be a great addition or a mess. Even the price.
We paid this iconic MC exactly what is asked us for. $15,000. That performance fee, for a headliner is unheard of. Even 11 years ago. Currently Lil Baby is $500k, Rod Wave about $300k (and rising) and T-Pain is $100k, so 15 was easy. The Clearwater City Manager, Bill Horne was so nervous we wanted DMX to close the show. Our love and his nervousness served one of my favorite WiLDsplash memories.
Panic To Prayer
Million dollar condos, Tom Cruise as a neighbor, there’s always a hard curfew. By this 2012 year, we’d earned some trust but they were afraid DMX would “rile em up” before leaving the park. We needed him done at 9 and it’s 9:15 and LIT! Backstage Bill told me “Orlando, you’ve earned equity with me but we have to have this done by 9:30 or we’re cutting his mic.” We told management and they told the dog. He nodded. At 9:29, with Bill Horne side stage with me, he motioned for it to be cut. I knew that would go well so I begged let him wrap up. The song ending, X say’s “let us pray“! Bill Horne stopped them and said “wait, he’s praying!” The crowd of 15,000 people were silent as he lead one of his classic prayers. People left, not an issue and they were amazed. Wow.
