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Slice of Life L.A.: Watching Reality Taped for Reality TV
Brandy and Ray J and three cameraman at M Street Coffee in Sherman Oaks on Thursday afternoon| Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
People are chatting, drinking coffee, working on their computers--just business as usual at M Street Coffee in Sherman Oaks. And then there's music celebrities Brandy and Ray J, surrounded by three cameraman, talking about respect, music and business for their VH1 show "A Family Business." No one seems to be surprised, even customers are walking in front of cameras without a care. Then, at one point, Ray J gets up, yells something as he runs out the door and it's all over.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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