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YOUR FAVORITE RAPPER’S FAVORITE MAGAZINE

PIMP C DOGG POUND THE PACK RICK BIG KRIT ROSS YELAWOLF

OZONE MAG // 1 YOUR FAVORITE RAPPER’S FAVORITE MAGAZINE

BUN B DORROUGH PAUL WALL BIG KRIT MASSPIKE MILES YELAWOLF PILL DOGG POUND THE PACK BOBBY BRACKINS LIVES ON 2 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 3 4 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 5 6 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 7 8 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 9 PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF // Julia Beverly MUSIC EDITOR // Randy Roper ADVERTISING SALES // Che Johnson, Gary Archer features PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR // Malik Abdul SPECIAL EDITION EDITOR // Jen McKinnon 32 8 FORGOTTEN HIP HOP HONRS WEST COAST EDITOR-AT-LARGE // D-Ray 28 8 HOT NEW PRODUCERS LEGAL CONSULTANT // Kyle P. King, P.A. 38 8 STILL PATIENTLY WAITING SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER // Adero Dawson 12 MOST MEMORABLE OZONE COVERS ADMINISTRATIVE // Kisha Smith INTERNS // Devon Buckner, Jee’Van Brown, Ms Ja CONTRIBUTORS // Anthony Roberts, Blogxilla, Bogan, interviews Camilo Smith, Charlamagne the God, Chuck T, Cierra 50-51 BIG KRIT Middlebrooks, David Rosario, Diwang Valdez, DJ BackSide, Edward Hall, Eric Perrin, -Z Cutt, Gary Archer, Hannibal 36-37 BUN B Matthews, Jacquie Holmes, J Lash, Jason Cordes, Jelani Harper, Joey Colombo, Johnny Louis, Kay Newell, Keadron 34-35 DORROUGH Smith, Keita Jones, Keith Kennedy, K.G. Mosley, King Yella, W20-23 RICKY ROSS Luis Santana, Luvva J, Luxury Mindz, Marcus DeWayne, Matt Sonzala, Maurice G. Garland, Mercedes (Strictly 44-45 MASSPIKE MILES Streets), Natalia Gomez, Portia Jackson, Ray Tamarra, Rico 46-48 PAUL WALL Da Crook, Rohit Loomba, Shannon McCollum, Spiff, Stan Johnson, Swift, Tamara Palmer, Thaddaeus McAdams, Ty 52-53 PILL Watkins, Wally Sparks, Wendy Day 42 SPIFF TV STREET REPS // 3rd Leg Greg, Adam Murphy, Alex Marin, Al- W10 TERRACE MARTIN My-T, Ant Wright, Anthony Deavers, Baydilla, Benz, Big Brd, B-Lord, Big Ed, Big Teach (Big Mouth), Big Thangs, Big Will, W14-15 THE DOGG POUND Bigg P-Wee, Bigg V, Black, Bogan, Bo Money, Brandi Garcia, W18-19 Brandon “Silkk” Frazier, Brian Eady, Buggah D. Govanah (On THE PACK Point), Bull, C Rola, Cartel, Cedric Walker, Cece Collier, Chad 43 Joseph, Charles Brown, Chill, Chuck T, Christian Flores, Clif- ton Sims, Dee1, Demolition Men, DJ Commando, Danielle W12-13 YA BOY Scott, DJ Dap, Delight, Derrick the Franchise, DJ Dimepiece, 54-55 YELAWOLF DJ D’Lyte, Dolla Bill, Dorian Welch, Dwayne Barnum, Dr. Doom, Dynasty, Ed the World Famous, DJ E-Feezy, DJ EFN, Episode, Eric “Crunkatlanta” Hayes, Erik Tee, F4 Entertain- ment, Fiya, G Dash, G-Mack, George Lopez, Gorilla Promo, monthly sections Haziq , Hezeleo, H-Vidal, Hotgirl Maximum, Hotshot, J Hype, Jacquie “Jax” Holmes, Jae Slimm, Jammin’ Jay, DJ 13 10 THINGS I’M HATIN’ ON Jam-X, Janiro Hawkins, Jarvon Lee, Jasmine Crowe, Jay 14 ARE YOU A G? Noii, Jeron Alexander, J Pragmatic, JLN Photography, Joe Anthony, John Costen, Johnny Dang, Judah, Judy Jones, 26 BOARD GAME Juice, DJ Juice, Kenneth Clark, Kewan Lewis, Klarc Shepard, Kool Laid, DJ KTone, Kurtis Graham, Kydd Joe, Lex, Lucky, 56 CD REVIEWS Lump, Lutoyua Thompson, Luvva J, Marco Mall, Mario Grier, 18 Marlei Mar, Maroy, DJ M.O.E., Music & More, Natalia Gomez, DJ Nik Bean, Nikki Kancey, Oscar Garcia, P Love, Pat Pat, 58 END ZONE Phattlipp, Pimp G, Quest, Quinton Hatfield, DJ Quote, DJ Rage, Rapid Ric, DJ Ricky Ruckus, Rob J Official, Rob Reyes, 4 I’M JUST SAYIN’ THO Robert Lopez, Rob-Lo, Robski, Scorpio, Seneca, Shauntae 24 INDUSTRY 101 Hill, Sherita Saulsberry, Silva Reeves, Sir Thurl, DJ Skee, Sly Boogy, Southpaw, Spade Spot, Stax, DJ Strong, Sweetback, 13 JB’S 2 CENTS Syd Robertson, Teddy T, TJ’s DJ’s, Tim Brown, Tonio, Tony 14 JEWELRY CORNER Rudd, Tre Dubb, Tril Wil, Edwards, Troy Kyles, Twin, Vicious, Victor Walker, DJ Vlad, Voodoo, DJ Warrior, White 16 MATHEMATICS Boi Pizal, Wild Billo, Will Hustle, William Major, Wu Chang, Young Harlem, Yung DVS, Zack Cimini 18 NAMES OF SHAME 15-33 PHOTO GALLERIES SUBSCRIPTIONS // To subscribe, send money order for $20 to: Ozone Magazine, Inc. 20 SIDEKICK HACKIN’ Attn: Subscriptions Dept W25 WEST COAST CD REVIEWS PO BOX 250009 W26 WEST COAST END ZONE , GA 30325 Phone: 404-350-3887 W6-8 WEST COAST PATIENTLY WAITING Fax: 404-601-9523 W7-11 WEST COAST PHOTO GALLERIES Website: www.ozonemag.com

COVER CREDITS // Rick Ross photo (cover and this page) by Julia Beverly; Bun B photo courtesy of Rap-A-Lot Records; Masspike Miles photo by Derick G. cover stories DISCLAIMER // OZONE Magazine is published 6 times per year by OZONE Magazine, Inc. OZONE does not take W16-17 BOBBY BRACKINS responsibility for unsolicited materials, misinformation, typographical errors, or misprints. The views contained herein do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher 30-31 PIMP C or its advertisers. Ads appearing in this magazine are not an endorsement or validation by OZONE Magazine for 40-41 RICK ROSS products or services offered. All photos and illustrations are copyrighted by their respective artists. All other content is copyright 2010 OZONE Magazine, all rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of the publisher. Printed in the USA.

10 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 11 by Maurice G. Garland MOST MEMORABLE YEAR OZONE COVERS 8ANNIVERSARY 10(log onto www.ozonemag.com for more) Having dropped 85 issues (plus several dozen special editions) over DJ Khaled with Rick Ross, , the past 8 years, OZONE has had plenty of memorable covers. Here, T.I., , Baby and we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the most powerful covers/issues since we (June 2007): came in in 2002. A large portrait of this cover hangs up in OZONE’s office and it instantly command Pimp C (May 2005): the attention of everyone who walks Five years later, when people think of through the door. Shot during some DJ OZONE Magazine, this cover image probably Khaled’s video shoot for “We Takin Over,” all still pops in their head. OZONE may have not of the guys in the photo were at the top of been the first media outlet to talk to Pimp C their game, making this a classic moment in while he was in prison, but it was definitely rap history. So we snapped it. This issue also the first to put him on the cover. saw us trying our hand at another list with the “25 Greatest Moments in Southern Rap (Jun 2006): History.” This issue is widely con- (Oct 2007): sidered to be Probably one of our most timely and power- one of the ful covers , we shot this with David best issues Banner right when he was in the middle of of OZONE’s a verbal conflict with several Black leaders 8 year run. It featured explosive interviews at the time. The story also showed the with the always outspoken Trick Daddy, Da- transformation from activist to Hollywood vid Banner and Too $hort. The centerpiece, movemaker that Banner was going through however, was the 20 Essential Southern at the time. This issue also featured an list that featured a panel made up OZONE West cover story entitled “One Love” of respected journalists, DJs and artists, all where Too $hort (who also wrote a heartfelt, offering heartfelt perspective on some of self-analyzing “Short Stories” column) at- their favorite albums. tempted to bring every artist in the Bay Area to work together…we’re still waiting. (April 2005): DJ Drama (May 2007): For this issue OZONE teamed up with MTV In his first cover story after the Jams to present the “25 Greatest Southern RIAA raid on his Aphilliates offices in Atlanta, Artists of All Time.” The only people that DJ Drama opened up as much as he could seemed to disagree with the list were Killer about what happened the day he had Mike and JT Money, but other than that, M-16 rifles pointed to his head and why the most readers thought it was spot on. T.I. government shut down his operation. The and Lil Wayne were ranked #15 and 18, re- interview showed the surprising amount of spectively. Five years later some miscommunication, red tape and grey area would probably say they were #1 and 2. that was in the mixtape game up to that point. It’s safe to say things haven’t been the T.I. cover story by Pimp C (May same since. 2006): To celebrate (March 2008): our 4th Anni- OZONE’s sec- versary, OZONE wanted to show our growth ond annual drug issue featured some of our by bridging the past with the present. most hard-hitting journalism with stories One of the things we did was have Pimp on the city of ’s deadly fascination C interview T.I. for the cover story, since with syrup a.k.a. and a story on the some Southern rap fans had funny feelings controversial (and now deceased) Jackson, towards Tip calling himself “The King of the Mississippi mayor Frank Melton. But most South” with guys like Pimp C and people remember this issue from the cover still around. But the most interesting part image alone that featured Webbie rocking a of the interview is when Pimp confronts t-shirt with the XXXL sticker still on it, gaudy Tip about his beef with Lil Flip at the time. jewelry and somebody’s college tuition This issue also featured a photo essay of in cash in his hand with the ironic cutline, our travels “Recession? throughout What the South up to that point. Recession?” Perhaps we Rick Ross (August 2006): spoke too soon. Right when the world was under the spell of Rick Ross’ smash hit “Hustlin’,” OZONE came Lil Wayne (Issue #83, 2010): through with a complete cover story on the OZONE secured Lil Wayne’s last interview star when all of the other magazines before he was sent to Rikers Island to serve were just starting to catch onto him. We a 12-month sentence on gun charges. After learned a lot about Ross in the interview, observing some of his final days in like him not being able to multiply past six. and Atlanta, readers got to see a vulnerable OZONE’s cameras also visited ’ side of Wayne that is often overshadowed 9th Ward one year after Katrina hit to find by the larger-than-life personality he proj- very little improvement in the conditions. ects on his omnipresent songs and videos.

12 // OZONE MAG JB’s 2cents Blah blah blah, blah blah, blah blah

- Julia Beverly, [email protected] 10 THINGS I’M HATIN’ ON by @Eleven8

1. LACEFRONT WIGS Since when was it fashionable to have a Cabbage Patch Kid hairline? If your edge-up is sharper than your boyfriend’s, you need to reevaluate your hair choices.

2. MTV Your name is MUSIC TELEVISION. Why don’t At the BET Awards after- you play any music? party with ...

3. FAKE WEED HEADS Everybody in the generation claims to smoke a lot of weed, but these are the same people who would get loopy smoking basil. If you don’t really smoke, it’s not necessary to pretend you do just to fit in. You can still be the weed holder and get to hang out with the cool kids. ...and backstage with 4. T.I. I’ve accepted the fact that jail is a revolving door for some rappers. But T.I.’s situation is like one really bad BET Blackbuster movie: he gets out of jail, gets caught with drugs, and then 2 days before his sentencing he saves a man from jumping to his death?

5. ANTOINE DODSON Antoine is the educated black person’s worst nightmare. We always joke about that one In LA for the Warner bafoon that is interviewed by the local news Bros BET pre-party with and makes a fool out of himself, his family, Memphitz... and his entire race. Well, it’s happened again. On a grand scale.

6. THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA None of these ladies are wives and none of them are real, so the show should just be called The Atlanta.

7. MALE GROUPIES The worst kind of groupies in existence. Not ...Too $hort.... only do they chase down women, models, and strippers, but they also cling onto every major artist or DJ that comes to their city, trying to take pictures with them and give them demo CDs.

8. R&B/RAP COLLABOS Back in the day, you got three verses and a bridge from an R&B singer. Just good old fashioned singing. These days, EVERY R&B ...and Bibi Guns song features a rapper. Nothing ruins the mood more than listening to a sexy slow jam and all of a sudden Plies comes scream- ing out of nowhere.

9. 3D Movies Wiz Khalifa “Black & Yellow” Every movie is in 3D these days and I’m over f/ “Runaway” RE’Splaylist it. Shred in 3D? What’s the purpose? Kanye West f/ RZA, Jay-Z, & Cyhi Da Prynce “” [email protected] Rich Kid Shawty f/ T.I. “Get Yo Girl” 10. 2010 CAREER CHOICES Sean Garrett f/ J. Cole “Feel Love” J. Cole “Blow Up” Everyone’s a rapper or a model. Everyone’s f/ Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Ryan Leslie, & “Start It Up” Playboy Tre “I Don’t Care” in entertainment. I miss the days when kids Mantiz f/ warrenJae “Political Dialogue” Cyhi Da Prynce “Sideways” wanted to become firemen, pilots, nurses, Terrace Martin f/ Kurupt & Overdoz. “Makings Of You” Tity Boi f/ “Boo” and doctors.

OZONE MAG // 13 JEWELRY Are You a G? abcdefG CORNER 7 Questions to FIND OUT if R&B STAR TANK WORDS By MO THE JEWELER, ICEBOX JEWELRY is the 7th letter of the alphabet.

Maybe Tank deserves to many music classes that I E. Are there any songs A quick flip through any recent issue of OZONE magazine will quickly be considered a G’ and was in class during football where you wish you could prove that “black on black” is one of the hottest and most in-demand not just another Nuvo- practice and never made it change a line or a lyric? trends in jewelry today. But until recently, black diamonds were nursing R&B singer. We to the field. I thought I was Tank: There is a line on dismissed as simply being expensive lumps of coal. Today, they can be put the Atlantic crooner to tricking them, but they “Maybe I Deserve” where found everywhere from double-digit custom diamond pieces to mall the test to determine if he were actually tricking me. I said, “To grab your neck kiosks across America. is, in fact, the 7th letter of Anybody who’s ever paid until you let me know.” I the alphabet. back a student couldn’t believe I put that Black diamonds are a naturally opaque stone, most widely found in loan knows what on a record and it was their color-treated form. It’s important to keep in mind that a treated A. You recently re-tweeted it’s like to be a actually a big record. Every black diamond is still a real diamond in every way. An enhanced black something one of your victim of a college’s time I sing that part in a followers wrote: “Tank tricky ways, so we can’t concert the ladies are like, diamond is a natural diamond treated with radiation only to obtain don’t look like no R&B discredit Tank on this one. “Grab it baby!” It’s crazy. uniform color. Visually, enhanced stones will be of a better quality i ever seen. I get applauded for that when compared to natural untreated black diamonds due to the Dude look like he gone C. Did you have more suc- part. They like it rough. amount of visual inclusions. Because natural black diamonds are not kill!” Is that a look you cess with the ladies based Maybe Tank very desirable, it is recommended to stick with color treated black strive for? on football or music? should teach a diamonds over untreated black diamonds any time you have the op- Tank: Yeah. I want to look at Tank: The first time I sang at class to younger tion available. little more aggressive than the high school assembly R&B singers about how the average R&B singer. all the girls started scream- to grab necks and get If you’re an avid jewelry buyer, you are probably familiar with the I have a strong athletic ing and it was like nothing applauded for it rather higher ticket that comes with the purchase of white diamonds. Under background: football, bas- I had ever heard before than prosecuted. There’s most conditions, white diamonds are the most expensive. In smaller ketball, just being in the in my life from scoring a obviously an art to it. sizes, black diamonds will be similar in price to your average quality gym and getting physical. touchdown or dunking. color enhanced canary yellow and blue diamonds. In larger sizes, how- So that makes me different That scream right there F. If you could play a ever, black diamonds will be comparatively cheaper to natural stones than other R&B singers. when I sang that high note character in any movie, of the same quality. [But] I am a true R&B singer made the girls go crazy. who would you be? in every sense of the word. So Tank chose Tank: Maybe I could be the The most important factors when considering a diamond, untreated From a musical standpoint, takin’ down cheer- first black Batman. I’d be a I love to sing to the ladies leaders over being billionaire, run the country, or not, is to look for a smooth surface and a , rich color. The color and sing about the ladies. tackled by 300-pound have my own city, and must be vivid and evenly distributed. With a natural, opaque black I love to beg. All of that is linemen. Possibly the best become a superhero at diamond, clarity has to do with luster and the absence of surface chips R&B and I love to do that. decision in “Are You A G’” night. Batman was about or cracks. A high quality black diamond will have a glossy, sparkling I’m not too far off of the history! his business during the day surface. beaten path but I do add and then at night he was some things that a lot of D. As an R&B star, how about his other business. In terms of clarity, black diamonds are rated within four main grades. people are not doing. many phone numbers Not a bad answer The highest of these is AAA, followed by AA, and A. The quality below Tank almost earned do you get on an average to a bad question. A is typically referred to as Below A or simply “cheap black diamonds.” I himself a point for day? We’ll give Tank DO NOT recommend going any lower than AA as the color of the treat- this response, until Tank: With me it’s about Wayne credit for this one. ing inside and on the surface of the stone itself is not consistent and is he admitted his quality, not quantity. I’ll very noticeable. Black diamonds rated below AA also have many pits affinity for begging. Never sacrifice ten for one. My G. You spend a lot of time and are a lot more brittle than the two qualities above it. a G’ move. [phone] number is valu- in Miami. What’s a typical able. It means something Miami night consist of? Until the recent black [diamonds] on black [gold] craze, most of the B. You had offers to play if you get my number. You Tank: KOD. If anybody black diamond pieces were contrasted by a more prominent color, like college football. What don’t just get my number knows anything about white or yellow along with it. Because it is not as “flashy” as your typical made you choose the because you happen to be that, it’s self explanatory. R&B route? a female in the club and Sorry Tank, but white diamond jewelry, this monochromatic look is understated and Tank: I took my music you have a little something makin’ it rain is so sophisticated. Combined with a more reasonable price point, it is no scholarship instead of on you. I can’t even say that 2006. surprise that black diamonds have shot up in popularity. The amount my football scholarship there is an average. I might of variety you have with using black diamonds is immense and I be- because my football be lucky to give out my Score 5/7 - A solid mark lieve this trend will last for a long time. It is safe to say we’ve come full scholarship was partial. number once a day. for the Milwaukee native. circle; black is the new black. So I was like, “I want the Sounds like a full [music] scholarship typical R&B Since Tank is now a certified If you liked this article or learned something new, feel free to check and I’ll still be able to play response crafted G, make sure you pick up his out our blog online at www.iceboxjewelry.com/blog. On the website, football when I get there.” to manipulate even more 4th Now or Never. you’ll see more articles like this one and pictures of our custom work But when I got there they adoration from the ladies, as well. loaded me down with so so we’ll give Tank a point. Words by Eric Perrin

14 // OZONE MAG (above L-R): & @ Obsessions in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Ms Rivercity); Diamond & Dorrough on the set of “Don’t Spill My Drank” in Dallas, TX (Photo: Never B4 Seen); Mims & DJ Big Dee @ The CORE DJs Retreat in Orlando, FL (Photo: Terrence Tyson)

01 // Hush @ St Andrews for Bizarre’s album release party (Detroit, MI) 02 // Skyhighworld, Dorrough, & Trae @ Mambo (Dallas, TX) 03 // Vawn & @ the Ralph Lauren store in the Lenox Mall (Atlanta, GA) 04 // Guest & @ The Coliseum (Daytona Beach, FL) 05 // Clay Evans, Steve Raze, & Cory Mo @ Obsessions (Atlanta, GA) 06 // DJ Drama & Diamond @ Havana Club for BMI’s Urban Showcase (Atlanta, GA) 07 // Nappy Roots @ St Andrews for Bizarre’s album release party (Detroit, MI) 08 // & Papa Duck @ Club Zanzabar (Ocala, FL) 09 // & Chaka Zulu @ the Ralph Lauren store in the Lenox Mall (Atlanta, GA) 10 // Pat Nix & Tony Khuu @ Showalter Airport for the Kappas Pajama Jam (Orlando, FL) 11 // Zaytoven, OJ da Juiceman, & Sig HB @ Obsessions (Atlanta, GA) 12 // Tosha, C’na, Star, & Sashey @ The Loft (St Louis, MO) 13 // Big Chris & Sha Tik @ Club Mirage for Street Runnaz celebration party (Tampa, FL) 14 // BoBo Luchiano & Pookie @ Pookie’s birthday bash (Dallas, TX) 15 // Kevin Cossom, Duval, Young City, & DJ Q45 @ Showalter Airport for the Kappas Pajama Jam (Orlando, FL) 16 // Jazze Pha & guest @ Park Tavern for ATL Live (Atlanta, GA) 17 // Rick Ross & Bigga Rankin @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL) 18 // Sweetness, CeCe, JW, & Cole @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL) 19 // Eye Candy model search winner Dominique @ The Loft (St Louis, MO)

Photo Credits: Chics with Pics (14); Edward Hall (02); Julia Beverly (03,06,09); Malik Abdul (01,07,10,12,15,16,19); Ms Rivercity (05,11); Terrence Tyson (04,08,13,17,18)

OZONE MAG // 15 CHANGING TIMES | By Wendy Day (www.RAP-COALITION.COM)

riting this article is the first productive thing I’ve done since I got This has created is an industry that became overcrowded, inexperienced, and my iPad. It’s crack to me. I’m so addicted to my iPad apps I can’t get full of shit. It made it next to impossible for anyone to make a living doing mu- Wany work done. And I’m gonna have to take out a loan to pay for all sic. And even worse, it became overcrowded and oversaturated at the exact of these expensive ass apps I am downloading onto my toy! The apps on my same time that fans stopped paying for music. The ancillary services were re- iPhone were 99 cents to $3.99. The iPad? The business apps are $9.99 and up. duced to a few very talented people and a sea of bungling idiots. Many, many Games and books? $4.99 and up… crazy. But I’m officially addicted. I have to artists lost large sums of money banking on the wrong people to help them. pay to play. When artists stopped making money on sales, they turned to touring for in- With the internet and technology, the playing field of the music business has come. As new artists were coming up (like Yo Gotti, Plies, , Lil Wayne, etc) been leveled. The price of recording equipment came down so anyone could there was a market for artists to make $5,000 to $10,000 a show. Up and com- record songs at home without having to spend a lot of money to record in a ing artists who had developed a street buzz could make a living doing shows. 64-track studio. Then, with the social networking sites, artists could go direct When I first met Yo Gotti, he was doing very well for himself performing for to fans and promote. With companies like TuneCore.com, artists can upload $3,000 to $8,000 a show, three or four nights a week. For years he toured both from home, and digitally distribute their music while collecting the bulk of smaller and larger markets. He could eat, his manager and his team could eat, the income from the sales. Could it get any better than this? and it helped to build his reputation and buzz. He built a solid foundation.

But here’s the downside: the internet with its relatively free access has led In today’s economy, artists seem to raise their prices quickly, so they become artists to believe that this is all they need to build a career and promote more expensive faster than they can attract fans. For example, had themselves. And that message was welcome news to most ears because— a wonderful buzz very early. Before she had a single or an album to promote, well, let’s face it, artists are almost always broke. So when led to believe that the word was she was charging $16,000 a show. That is a wonderful thing, but all they need is to upload their shit to the web and promote for free from here is the reality of that….in a smaller market, which is what makes up the home, they ate that up! And still do. Unfortunately, it has NOT made any bulk of America, to make a profit on a $16,000 show (which is about $26,000 internet millionaire artists in the music industry. all-in with venue, travel, and promotions), the promoter has to have a venue that holds at least 2,000 people willing to spend $20 or $25 a ticket. In a small- This thinking of “oh, that’s easy, I can do that,” spawned an entire new er market, there are very few large clubs that hold 2,000 people and very few generation of people who jumped headfirst into the industry. This not only people who can afford a $25 ticket a couple of times a week. So newer artists included artists and producers, but anyone who was able to invent a job went from being a regular feature in a small town, to a once-in-a-while event. within the music industry and look important. People able to copy news The industry is too oversaturated with artists to only have sporadic shows. from major Hip Hop web sites became “bloggers” and started blabbing their personal opinions and called themselves “legitimate sources.” Anyone able There was a point this past Spring where the show prices of newer artists to collect email addresses and press “send” on a mass email became email either fell into the $1,000 to $5,000 range (, , Alley blasters (for a fee). People with the ability to email bloggers and websites Boy, etc) or the $15,000 to $25,000 range (Yo Gotti, Waka Flocka, Nicki Minaj, started calling themselves publicists and charging for it even though they etc). While I absolutely LOVE seeing artists , I can’t help but wonder lacked the relationships, skills, and experience to get successful placements what the promoters did who needed shows in the $5,000 to $12,500 range. for their clients. Sadly, I know the answer--they stopped doing rap shows. They couldn’t make money. The artists who commanded the higher price point ended up doing On the social networking sites, like Twitter, people with no experience and spot dates in bigger markets, and couldn’t tour properly because the econom- no access gained instant access to the inner circle of the music industry. You ics didn’t make sense. I worried about Gotti and Waka when their planned can “friend” or “follow” Julia Beverly, Puffy, Steve Rifkind, and every star and tour ended after just a handful of dates. Touring not only brings in income for convince yourself you have a relationship with them. You can retweet what the artists (and now the labels) but it also promotes the artist amongst the they say, or repeat it in an e-blast and lead others to think you have access fans all over the US. Not being able to perform in Albany, GA, Columbia, SC, and inner knowledge (reminder: you don’t). Fayetteville, NC, or Knoxville, TN hurts the artists, the fans, and the industry as a whole. If an artist can only do shows in the bigger markets to survive (like Industrious folks quickly learned they could sit at home and surf the web Atlanta where clubs routinely hold 2,000+ people, and there are enough fans in between computer games and would call it “grinding.” They could print to have shows every night of the week at $25 a head), they are fucked from up business cards and charge other naive folks money to publicize them, the gate. promote their music, buy beats or hooks, subscribe to their eblast services, and pay good money for a variety of useless and ineffective services. Up When I pulled up SoundScan last week, I noticed that very few rappers have sprang a cottage industry overloaded with conference calls, record pools, DJ gone Gold. The artists who’ve sold the most are the mainstream pop acts, coalitions, award shows, mp3 blasts, and seminars. the artists like , Lil Wayne, Kanye, Rick Ross—the ones who’ve already built their careers on a solid foundation. The ones who no longer need So an industry already rife with bullshitters and scam artists went into the smaller markets or the smaller clubs to make a living. And the ones who hyperspeed. Intent on making money off of artists’ dreams, these less than make music that goes to pop radio. experienced wanna-be’s started promoting themselves and their services as if that’s what it took to succeed in this business. Only, they were wrong. They Here’s the light at the end of the tunnel: bullshit comes to light very quickly haven’t helped create any stars. and the folks who will remain after all the dust settles are the ones who were passionate enough to the turbulence and stick it out. The artists savvy enough to think longterm and who realize that it’s better to work for 7 nights at $2,000 a night, instead of once a week for $10,000, are the ones who will have the staying power and the solid careers. The rest will fizzle out and go by the wayside. Natural selection at its best! //

16 // OZONE MAG (above L-R): DJ Drama & Pill @ Havana Club for BMI’s Urban Showcase in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly); Trae & on the set of Gudda Gudda’s video shoot in Houston, TX (Photo: Sweetness); Julia Beverly & @ House of in Houston, TX (Photo: Julia Beverly)

01 // Kenny Burns & @ Converse’s celebrity basketball game (Atlanta, GA) 02 // Pat Nix & DJ Q45 @ Tera Nova for the Just Wright release party (Jacksonville, FL) 03 // Short Dawg & Greg Gates on the set of Gudda Gudda’s video shoot (Houston, TX) 04 // Guest, Lil Hen, Midget , Young Cash, JW, & Quentin Groves @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL) 05 // DJ D-Strong, Disco Jr, & PI Bang @ Showalter Airport for the Kappas Pajama Jam (Orlando, FL) 06 // Eye Candy model Teresa @ The Loft (St Louis, MO) 07 // Young Buck & guest @ The Hall (Palmetto, FL) 08 // Antonio Tarver, Slim E, & Chris Turner @ The CORE DJs Retreat (Orlando, FL) 09 // Trina signing autographs @ DTLR in Dekalb Mall for Trina’s album signing (Atlanta, GA) 10 // Jay Electronica goes hard on the defense @ Converse’s celebrity basketball game (Atlanta, GA) 11 // Bizmarkie & DJ Q45 @ Tera Nova for the Just Wright release party (Jacksonville, FL) 12 // Gucci Mane & Coach @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL) 13 // Supa Cindy & Special Ed @ The CORE DJs Retreat (Orlando, FL) 14 // 4 Tre, Zaytoven, & OJ da Juiceman @ Obsessions (Atlanta, GA) 15 // Ratt & Waka Flocka Flame @ The Coliseum (Daytona Beach, FL) 16 // Loaded & Berto @ The GO DJs conference (Dallas, TX) 17 // , Kywaun, , , & City Spud on the set of “Money Talks” (St Louis, MO) 18 // Omega Red & Still Grindin crew @ Omega Red’s press junket (San Juan, Puerto Rico) 19 // City Spud & Jus Bleezy on the set of “Money Talks” (St Louis, MO)

Photo Credits: Edward Hall (16); Julia Beverly (01,10); King Yella (17,19); Malik Abdul (05,06,09); Maurice Garland (18); Ms Rivercity (14); Sweetness (03); Terrence Tyson (02,04,08,11,12,13,15); Travis Pendergrass (07)

OZONE MAG // 17 CHIN CHECK By Charlamagne Tha God

pure hate for these teams! It’s the same exact thing to, why did he choose AutoTune? Why not death with people! to the drug culture in Hip Hop? Why not death to HATING IS rappers disrespecting women? I personally feel like nobody has experienced more FOR SUCKAS hate than Sean Carter a.k.a. Jay-Z. Since 1996 he A hater would say, “Fuck Jay-Z! If Big and Pac were has done nothing but win. When he first came out, alive he wouldn’t be shit. He hasn’t dropped a dope Haters are just confused admirers. I know this for we all wanted a movement like Roc-A-Fella. He was album since the first Blueprint. All he does is bite a fact because I myself have been prone to hating. the star player on a team he owned but there came Biggie. Death to AutoTune? Niggas are eating off First Corinthians 13:11 reads, “When I was a child, I a point when you started to hate Jay-Z because he that shit and his old ass wants to hate? The only talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned was winning WAY too much. Haters started to look reason he’s on top is because he’s part of the Illumi- like a child. When I became a man, I put childish for flaws. Haters wanted to knock him off his nati and worships the devil! I hope Beyonce leaves ways behind me.” Well, that’s true of me also. When pedestal, and cultural critics just wanted a good his camel-lookin’ ass!” I was a child, I envied like a child, got jealous like a Hip Hop battle. Haters graded his presidency at Def child, and hated like a child. When I became a man, I Jam an “F” because LL didn’t sell records, or Meth What kind of a world are we living in that whenever put my childish, hateful ways behind me. and Red didn’t get proper promotion, or Memphis a black person is winning, it’s because he worships Bleek and Young Gunz didn’t do well. Cultural the devil? Forget God, talent, and hard work - the There’s a difference between hate and honest cri- critics took all those things into consideration and only reason he’s winning is because he worships tique. I don’t like being labeled a “hater.” I prefer the still gave him an “A” because he was instrumental the devil? That’s when hate has gone too far. We term “cultural critic,” but there’s a fine line between in helping Kanye, Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Rick Ross and must challenge ourselves to understand the dif- the two. A cultural critic says, “Nicki Minaj is dope, Jeezy’s careers. ference between honest opinion and hate. Honest she’s doing her thing. I actually think her rhymes opinions and constructive criticism are great; they were a lot harder when she was doing On The Come When Kingdom Come came out a lot of people can only help you grow. Hate is destructive and it Up DVDs, but she’s still nice and I hope she does the bashed it, but I loved it because it was grown, only hurts you in the long run, because you’re wast- right things with her cult-like following because executive Jay-Z reporting live from the boardroom. ing your time instead of focusing on how you too she has a lot of young girls looking up to her and He was taking us somewhere we had never been, can become a winner. trying to be like her. I hope she leads them to do the and I appreciated that. Listening to music is the right things because with great power comes great same as reading a book. We can experience things Next time you speak on a person ask yourself if responsibility.” we’ve never done and it shows us where we can you’re jealous of them. Do you envy them? Do you go. That’s what he did with that album. It did have want to be in their position? If you answer yes to A hater says, “Fuck Nicki Minaj. That bitch can’t rap. a couple of whack joints, like “Anything” featuring any of those questions, don’t speak, because you She’s a fake Lil Kim and she be trying to sound like and Pharrell, but overall I thought it was won’t have anything constructive to say. It’s better Wayne. Fuck her and all the Barbies that want to be solid. Haters said, “Fuck Jay-Z, he’s whack, his old ass to remain silent and be thought of as a hater than like the bitch.” needs to stay retired,” with no real reasoning. to speak out and remove all doubt.

See the difference? The cultural critic gave his hon- I didn’t like American Gangster as much. Musically it Remember - haters are just confused admirers. est opinion on the Nicki Minaj movement. He said was great but I felt like he was going backwards by Being a hater is childish and we cultural critics what he thought about her, what he used to think using the movie as an excuse to rap about the d- are quite grown. about her, and what he thinks she should do with boy lifestyle again. I feel like Jay-Z is bigger than the the power she has. The hater had nothing good to trap lifestyle. We know you used to do that and we May Allah bless you all, say, it was all disses and insults. With envy comes don’t need to hear about it anymore. Then, when Charlamagne Tha God needless criticism. Jealousy destroys from within. he dropped “D.O.A.,” haters (including myself) said, Haters can never think rationally about someone “Why is he declaring death to AutoTune?” Of all Follow Me On Twitter else’s situation because they are too busy wonder- the things in Hip Hop that he could declare death www.twitter.com/cthagod ing why they are not in that situation. They’re unhappy with what they’re doing so they bash what someone else is doing because it makes them feel better about themselves.

Most losers are haters; that’s why you should never listen to a loser’s opinion. They sit around on their keyboards all day and throw insults about people via Twitter and Facebook and post negative com- 1. SLAVE TRADE ENTERTAINMENT www.slavetradeent.com ments on different websites. Go to any blog right With 360 Deals running rampant in the music business, Slave Trade Entertainment actually now and I guarantee that out of the 50 comments doesn’t sound that far-fetched. But their slogan “we want reparation in the entertainment indus- on any one article, only two or three will speak try” makes this name even more confusing. about the artist mentioned in a positive light. There are so many people LOSING at this thing called life 2. Doin’ Time Entertainment www.inmatesgottalent.com that everybody hates anyone that’s WINNING! For the type of work they do, their name is actually appropriate. They are currently making a prison-based American Idol-type show called Inmates Got Talent, hoping to actually rehabilitate Think about some of the most storied franchises in convicts by allowing them to perform music and comedy routines. However, if you ever get an sports: Lakers, Boston Celtics, offer to sign to this label…you probably aren’t where you want to be in life. Yankees, and my favorite team ever, the Dallas Cow- boys. People either LOVE or HATE these teams. If www.myspace.com/billymayonaise & you love them it’s because you’re a loyal or fanatical < 3. Mayo and B.White www.myspace.com/bwhiteakathewiseguy fan like me. If you hate them it’s only because you These two names go right alongside and Snow as the corni- grew up watching them beat the shit out of your est white rapper names ever. Don’t be surprised if we hear of some favorite squad. You hated seeing them win Super guys named Saltine and Marsh Mellow after this. Bowl after Super Bowl, World Series after World Series, NBA championship after NBA championship. Words by Maurice G. Garland You wished it was your squad that was winning, so the jealousy and envy you felt manifested itself into

18 // OZONE MAG (above L-R): Jay Electronica & his niece @ Converse’s celebrity basketball game in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly); Common & DJ Q45 @ Tera Nova for the Just Wright release party in Jacksonville, FL (Photo: Terrence Tyson); Sean Garrett & Bangladesh @ Havana Club for BMI’s Urban Showcase in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly)

01 // Prince Rick, Treal Lee, Mr Hit Dat Hoe & Travis Porter @ Pure Lounge (Dallas, TX) 02 // Steve Bellamy, Pat Nix, & Ali Muhammad @ Tera Nova for the Just Wright release party (Jacksonville, FL) 03 // Sean D & DJ Demp @ The CORE DJs Retreat (Orlando, FL) 04 // Lloyd, Hollywood, & Mystikal on the set of “Set Me Free” (New Orleans, LA) 05 // DJ D-Strong & Roscoe Dash @ Spring Bling (Daytona Beach, FL) 06 // Travis Porter @ Columbia High School (Columbia, SC) 07 // & Tony Neal @ Tongue & Groove for Ray Rizzy’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 08 // Jay Electronica front & center for ’s show @ Shriners Temple (Atlanta, GA) 09 // Cali Swag District @ Pookie’s birthday bash (Dallas, TX) 10 // Ensayne Wayne & J Holiday @ DJango’s for ATL Beat Battle (Atlanta, GA) 11 // One Chance on the set of Sophia Fresh’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 12 // 9th Ward Gucci, Lloyd, & DJ Mike Swift on the set of “Set Me Free” (New Orleans, LA) 13 // Lil C & Big Cotton @ Patchwerk for Lil C’s listening session (Atlanta, GA) 14 // Guest, DJ Jelly, & Big Boi @ Stankonia for Big Boi’s listening party (Atlanta, GA) 15 // Git Fresh & G Dragon (Seoul, South Korea) 16 // Bigga Rankin & Zaytoven @ Club Obsessions (Atlanta, GA) 17 // DJ Sir Thurl & Birdman on the set of “Money Talks” (St Louis, MO) 18 // Common & Pat Nix @ Tera Nova for the Just Wright release party (Jacksonville, FL) 19 // Mr Collipark, Rage, & on the set of “Daze” (Atlanta, GA)

Photo Credits: Chics with Pics (09); Julia Beverly (08,11,14,15); King Yella (17); Malik Abdul (06,07,13,19); Marcus DeWayne (04,12); Ms Rivercity (10,16); Never B4 Seen (01); Ter- rence Tyson (02,03,05,18)

OZONE MAG // 19 LIL KIM, NICKI MINAJ, &

Lil Kim: You Want To Rumble With The Bee Huh!

NICKI MINAJ: [No Reply]

Lil Kim: Don’t act like you don’t see me! I got your info from the gay guy who did my colorful wigs in the Crush On You Video! That’s right, the same one who does your wigs now! I know this is you Nicki! You need to pay homage!

NICKI MINAJ: [No Reply]

Lil Kim: Get Your Own Shit Nicki! Why You Riding Mine!

NICKI MINAJ: [No Reply]

Lil Kim: I don’t want you to think I’m doing this because I’m not hot right now, and this generation doesn’t care about me, and I’m trying to generate some interest because I want Roc Nation to think I’m viable enough to sign. This isn’t about none of that, this is about respect!

NICKI MINAJ: [No Reply]

* FIVE HOURS LATER *

DRAKE: Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

Lil Kim: What? Is this Aubrey? Here you go speaking up for Nicki again! Listen here you thumb with eyebrows why don’t you say something to Ray J or Beanie Sigel? They the ones who got @ you not me! You looking real PINK right now getting at a female!

OZONE EXCLUSIVE DRAKE: Anything I’ve ever done that ultimately was worthwhile...initially scared me to death.

Lil Kim: You need to be scared! When I come to one of your shows Dressed in Textin’ is no longer safe now that OZONE’s all Black like the Omen, i’m a have your friends singing this is for ! dangerous minds have hacked the system. DRAKE: I’d rather be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right.

Lil Kim: What? Look here Pink Boy this isn’t Twitter! I want to talk to Nicki not you!

DRAKE: Nicki is only responding to relevant people today.

Lil Kim: What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

DRAKE: It means Thank Biggie for writing your rhymes...Thank you for that Hardcore poster with the nice vaginal shot....Thank you for the memories... for letting you know it’s OVER. Now I’m going back to, wait? What was I doing? Oh that’s right, I’m doing me, I’m doing me......

From the mind of Charlamagne Tha God Nicki Minaj & Drake photos by Julia Beverly

20 // OZONE MAG (above L-R): Young Cash & JW @ Plush in Jacksonville, FL (Photo: Terrence Tyson); Dream & Bone @ Stankonia in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Ms Rivercity); KLC & Mystikal @ House of Blues in Houston, TX (Photo: Julia Beverly)

01 // Bryan J & Sammie @ Columbia High School (Columbia, SC) 02 // Stax & Lil C @ Hot Beats for Lil C’s listening party (Atlanta, GA) 03 // Yancey Richardson & @ The Loft (Atlanta, GA) 04 // Julia Beverly, DJ Infamous, Miss Info, OJ da Juiceman, & DJ Holiday @ Converse’s celebrity basketball game (Atlanta, GA) 05 // Eldorado Red & Yung Ralph @ Patchwerk (Atlanta, GA) 06 // Git Fresh & (Seoul, South Korea) 07 // Sam Sneak, Young Breed, Rick Ross, & Masspike Miles @ Compound for DJ Infamous” party (Atlanta, GA) 08 // CORE Models & Ray Rizzy @ Tongue & Groove for Ray Rizzy’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 09 // Baby Boy & Young Dro @ Obsessions (Atlanta, GA) 10 // Lloyd & EI @ Havana Club for BMI’s Urban Showcase (Atlanta, GA) 11 // Wendy Day & Grand Prix @ The CORE DJs Retreat (Orlando, FL) 12 // Saw Money & Young Cash @ The CORE DJs Retreat (Orlando, FL) 13 // Omega Red & crew @ Omega Red’s press junket (San Juan, Puerto Rico) 14 // @ Throbacks (Atlanta, GA) 15 // DJ Drama & Khujo Goodie @ Havana Club for BMI’s Urban Showcase (Atlanta, GA) 16 // Pookie from Urban South reppin” OZONE (Greenville, MS) 17 // Tarvoria & Haitian Fresh @ The CORE DJs Retreat (Orlando, FL) 18 // Mo Spoon & Eye Candy Models @ The Loft (St Louis, MO)

Photo Credits: Edward Hall (16); Julia Beverly (04,06,10,13,15); Malik Abdul (01,02,03,08,18); Ms Rivercity (05,09,14); Terrence Tyson (11,12,17); Thaddaeus McAdams (07)

OZONE MAG // 21 22 // OZONE MAG (above L-R): Jay Electronica, Pill, & Angela Yee @ Shriners Temple in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly); Sophia Fresh on the set of their video shoot in Atlanta, GA; D Woods & @ Door 44 for ’s shower in Atlanta, GA (Photos: Malik Abdul)

01 // Freeway Ricky Ross & Emperor Searcy @ Echelon (Atlanta, GA) 02 // Rick Ross & Young Breed @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL) 03 // Wendy Day, E-Class, & Nancy Byron @ The CORE DJs Retreat (Orlando, FL) 04 // Big Kuntry & TJ Chapman on the set of B.o.B.’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 05 // Yancey Richardson, Plies, & DJ Q45 @ WJBT (Jacksonville, FL) 06 // Brandi Garcia & Mystikal @ House of Blues (Houston, TX) 07 // Lil Tony & Charm @ Pure Lounge (Dallas, TX) 08 // Stephanie & DJ Hella Yella at Bacy’s (Dallas, TX) 09 // Akon pulling up in style @ Compound for DJ Infamous” party (Atlanta, GA) 10 // DJ Bigg V & Global Mixx @ Delta Nights (Indianola, MS) 11 // Yancey Richardson, Wiz Khalifa, & Cannon Kent @ The Loft (Atlanta, GA) 12 // Trina & Mz Shyneka @ DTLR in Dekalb Mall for Trina’s album signing (Atlanta, GA) 13 // T Streetz & Gudda Gudda on the set of Gudda Gudda’s video shoot (Houston, TX) 14 // Terrence Tyson & Shanell @ The CORE DJs Retreat (Orlando, FL) 15 // Nicole & Vee @ Havana Club for BMI’s Urban Showcase (Atlanta, GA) 16 // & Miss Info @ Converse’s celebrity basketball game (Atlanta, GA) 17 // Jagged Edge @ Havana Club for BMI’s Urban Showcase (Atlanta, GA) 18 // Ace Hood @ Club Zanzabar (Ocala, FL) 19 // Lil Hen, Quentin Groves, & Jamar Hornsby @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL)

Photo Credits: Edward Hall (10); Julia Beverly (06,15,16,17); Malik Abdul (01,04,11,12); Never B4 Seen (07,08); Sweetness (13); Terrence Tyson (02,03,05,14,18,19); Thaddaeus McAdams (09)

OZONE MAG // 23 Industry 101 RASHEED MUHAMMAD

The walls OF Rasheed Muhammad’s Atlanta, GA office – lined with plaques from the likes of LIL WAYNE, T.I., Jermaine Dupri, , Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, Young Jeezy, Dallas Austin, USHER, Pharrell, Ne-Yo, Yung Joc, Keyshia Cole, AND T-PAIN – seem more fit- ting for a record executive than a banker. As the Vice President of SunTrust’s unique Sports and En- tertainment division, Muhammad was able to parlay his passion for music and formal training into a secure career which still affords him the excitement of the enter- tainment world. I have a degree in Retail Administration and small loans, credit cards, things of that nature. Management and a second concentration in But here, the client is aligned with a true wealth We met recently at T.I.’s wedding. A lot of peo- Finance. When I moved to Atlanta, I started work- advisor that can give them advice on general ple think that to be a part of that social circle ing for another financial institution and I had to bank stuff as well as more sophisticated financial you would have to be a rapper or a singer, but build a portfolio [of clients] from scratch. And conversations, like insurance, estate planning, it seems like you’ve managed to have the best since I had always been around the music indus- investment planning, wills, trusts, things of that of both worlds. Did you plan it that way? try, those are [the clients] I went after. There was nature. And by doing business with us you also I got really lucky, because I was able to marry a lot going on in Atlanta at the time – this was get access to our network. We can align our Rolo- a hobby with my career. When I was growing right before the 1996 Olympics. LaFace Records dex – we have clients who can help other clients. up I had formal training as a singer, and I was was here, and the music industry was busting at Not only that, but our group is really passionate always interested in the business side of the the seams. If you’re passionate about the music about the business. Being an artist is always go- music industry. I pursued a career as a singer industry, you understand how money is made ing to be in my blood, and that’s what gives me and a , and I didn’t make it, but I didn’t in the industry. Shows like VH1’s Behind the the passion to be out there at 2 or 3 in the morn- want to just be a person who was on stage Music will really examples of clients ing trying to connect the dots. I believe the role I performing. I wanted to know how to leverage who either didn’t get expert financial advice or play at SunTrust helps the industry as a whole. my personality and do everything. I had already didn’t follow it, and as a result, you get the rags been researching merchandising and touring to riches and then riches back to rags story, you You did mention someone who had inter- and royalties; all the different revenue streams know? viewed for a job at SunTrust and you turned you can make in the music industry. So I already him down because he wanted to be a music had a firm grasp of that. How did you end up at SunTrust and how did artist as well. Where do you draw the line be- they decide to start a separate division for tween the passion and the business? At what point did you decide you weren’t go- entertainment? Well, we did have a highly regarded intern who ing to “make it” as a singer/songwriter? SunTrust has been doing it since 1988; a guy they thought would be great for the sports and I graduated from the University of South Caro- named Brian Williams had the vision to sort of entertainment group. I met him and he was lina, and while I was going to school there, I was become the banker to the stars. Brian started off great, and we really wanted to give him an offer, in a singing group and we’d been doing shows with one client and just built it one client at a but he also had a strong musical interest and the on campus. At school, we were stars, you know? time through referrals. I had a lot of opportuni- passion to do it. He said he really needed the job, We did shows and frat parties. At one of the frat ties to go to other firms, but in 2003, Brian called and we told him, “If that’s in your blood, that you parties this guy said he was Diana Ross’ cousin me and said, “Hey, I have an opportunity for you,” really love the music, just pursue your dreams.” and he wanted to bring us to do Showtime at and I was like, “Brian, I’m really happy where I We wanted to help him out in any way we could, the Apollo. We thought he was [lying] but we am.” And Brian said, “Just give me an opportunity but you can’t be the person trying to be the still traded numbers. And he ended up calling us to tell my story. Once I’ve told my story, you’re in- artist and you’re the financial advisor as well. We and scheduled us to do [Showtime at the Apollo] formed, and if it makes sense, let’s talk more.” He didn’t want to have a conflict of interest. in two weeks. We were in college, and we didn’t told me his story, and SunTrust’s story. SunTrust have any money. So the four of us piled into a was one of the first firms to get comfortable When a new client comes to you on the enter- rented two-door Nissan Sentra and drove all the with royalty lending and catalogue lending. I tainment side, what are some of the typical way up to New York. We shared the hotel room, literally went from being happy and comfortable financial problems or mistakes you see? we shared pieces of chicken, we shared every- at my job to [quitting] and starting at SunTrust First, we have to examine the people they thing. We did Showtime at the Apollo in 1994, seventeen days later. It just made sense. Here surround themselves with; their professional and we actually almost won. But for the four of we do a lot of music, but also sports – baseball, consultants. They have to have a true business us, we felt like that was the pinnacle of all talent basketball, football, golf, tennis, everything. manager or accountant in place. We can’t really shows. Within a few months of us leaving the be instrumental unless those things are in place. Apollo, one of the members of our group tragi- Why would an entertainer or athlete come to We work hand-in-hand with a lot of business cally died in a car accident. We kinda regrouped you instead of another bank? managers to design an approach. I think a lot of and I decided to move to Atlanta, both because I don’t believe there are any other financial the financial woes of the industry... I was interested in the music business and be- institutions that have a separate line of business cause I wanted to make use of my degree. that is totally sports and entertainment. That’s all To read the rest of this interview, search for we do. We also do private wealth management. “Rasheed Muhammad” on ozonemag.com. What did you get your degree in? [At a general bank] you can make a deposit, do Words & Photo by Julia Beverly

24 // OZONE MAG (above L-R): OJ da Juiceman & Miss Info @ Converse’s celebrity basketball game in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly); G1 & Birdman @ Club Cinema in Pompano Beach, FL (Photo: Travis Pendergrass); Camron & @ Compound for DJ Infamous” party in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Thaddaeus McAdams)

01 // DJ 5 Venoms & DJ Smallz @ Club Mirage for Street Runnaz celebration party (Tampa, FL) 02 // Jabar & ladies @ Club Tavern (Orlando, FL) 03 // Pookie of Urban South & friends @ Club Pure for his birthday party (Dallas, TX) 04 // Waka Flocka Flame & Gudda Gudda on the set of Gudda Gudda’s video shoot (Houston, TX) 05 // Bigga Rankin & Young Cash @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL) 06 // Flo Rida takes over the DJ booth (Seoul, South Korea) 07 // Angela Yee & 9th Wonder @ Shriners Temple (Atlanta, GA) 08 // Jim Jones & Camron @ Converse’s celebrity basketball game (Atlanta, GA) 09 // Ladies @ Spring Bling (Daytona Beach, FL) 10 // Alley Boy, Zaytoven, & Big Bank Black @ Club Obsessions (Atlanta, GA) 11 // Ms Rivercity & Grand Prix @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL) 12 // Spodee & Baby Boy @ Obsessions (Atlanta, GA) 13 // Stix Malone & DJ Holiday @ Converse’s celebrity basketball game (Atlanta, GA) 14 // Yung Joc & SWAGG Team affiliates @ Havana Club for BMI’s Urban Showcase (Atlanta, GA) 15 // St. Lunatics Ali, Murphy Lee, Nelly, Kywuan, & City Spud on the set of “Money Talks” (St Louis, MO) 16 // Plies & Tarvoria @ The Coliseum for Plies concert (Daytona Beach, FL) 17 // Lloyd & Princess Denisia on the set of “Set Me Free” (New Orleans, LA) 18 // Alley Boy & Eldorado Red @ Club Fushion (Montgomery, AL) 19 // Maurice Garland, Mecca, & Janee Bolden @ Shriners Temple (Atlanta, GA)

Photo Credits: Edward Hall (03); Julia Beverly (06,07,08,13,14,19); Keith the Beast (02); King Yella (15); Marcus DeWayne (17); Ms Rivercity (10,12,18); Sweetness (04); Terrence Tyson (01,05,09,11,16)

OZONE MAG // 25 Since 1989, Steve Below’s production has good songs. We dropped a Smitty album but about business. We’d just ride around and talk appeared on many of your favorite artist’s it had to come out through another label be- about music. albums. Lil Boosie, Webbie, and cause Pimp got locked up. We had to regroup were a few of Below’s first projects. Later, he when Pimp got locked up. I moved back to Dal- Tell us about your work on Bun B’s Trill OG. provided the backdrop for UGK classics like las and got a regular 9-5, but I would still come I met both Pimp and Bun at the same time “Swishas and Dosha” and Bun B’s “Right Now,” home and do music. I shot to a high and then at Mel’s house. I played some beats for them featuring Pimp C, Tupac, and Trey Songz. hit a low point, but I never got discouraged. and they bobbed their heads. From there I But in between those productions, Below Rappers tend to hide when they come down developed a relationship with [Bun’s manager] still worked 9-5 jobs until the next call came. from being in the spotlight, but producers can International Red. I called Bun and told him OZONE sat down with the producer to find still maneuver with no ego involved. I thought he was going to make a classic. He out what it’s like to make a classic while still said he wanted to make the album that every- leading a “regular” life. Bouncing back depends on your personal body thought he could make, but hadn’t made character and how bad you want it. There were yet. Bun brought me down to a spot and put Who were your immediate influences coming days when I was discouraged and asked myself me in a situation where I could be comfortable from Dallas? if I wanted to be working a 9-5 for the rest of and just work. I produced the intro, “Church,” Watching Yo! MTV Raps, BET, and Donnie my life. “Right Now,” “Lights Cameras Action,” “Get Simpson. We had Nemisis, Ron C, D.O.C. He was Down For Mine,” “Show Money,” and some the one that came out and showed everybody How did you get back in the game? extra songs that are on the deluxe edition. this could be done on a nationwide scale, aside I got another chance to work with Trill Enter- from the obvious ones like Run-DMC. Back tainment on Webbie’s Savage Life album. But What was it like producing “Right Now”? then it wasn’t about what Coast you were from, when people heard the tracks I did on UGK’s I was already a fan of everybody on that record, it was about the music. They inspired every- double-album, that’s what did it. I did “Swishas especially Tupac and Pimp C. Their music was body, like, “Hey, we can get into this too.” and Dosha” and the “Like That” remix. That mo- already embedded in my soul. I was a huge tivated me to keep going, because to stop after Tupac fan. Most of the time when I make beats, When did you start producing? getting to that point didn’t make any sense. I have Tupac in mind anyway. When the oppor- Around 1996. I grew up in Dallas, but it wasn’t tunity arose - I wouldn’t say it was easy - but until I left and went to Southern University in What was it like working on an album of that I felt like I was ready. It had to be a song that Baton Rouge that I started meeting people magnitude? Prior to that album you didn’t both the young and the old would like, and in the business. I met Curt B, who was doing hear about Pimp C working with a lot of it had to sound like something both of them beats. We’d be sitting around in the apartment outside producers for UGK albums. would rap on, so it had to be musical. When I trying to make something that would pop. Curt I’m not gonna lie to you, it was a lot of pres- was making that track, I had pictures of Pimp B is one of those cats that could make friends sure. Before I even submitted any tracks to that and ‘Pac in front of me, talking to them. I know with anybody. He started telling people about album, they had already gotten beats from that sounds crazy, but I couldn’t mess this up. me, like C-Loc. I was fortunate to watch Nappy Swizz Beatz, Jazze Pha, the Blackout Move- I wasn’t the only person to get my hands on it; Perez work on the first Young Bleed album, and ment, and . So I was about to be in the they gave it to a couple other producers too. then I worked with him on the Concentration company of folks with platinum, mega-hits. But It brought out my competitive spirit. I said, Camp’s album The Holocaust. I did five beats on Pimp used to constantly tell me I was jammin’, “Nobody is taking this one from me.” // Young Bleed’s second album; that was my first so that helped a lot. The “Swishas and Dosha” national placement at the time. beat was a turning point in my career. People always tell me that’s the song they listen to Next, Curt B introduced me to Mel, who is co- when they’re having a long day. CEO of Trill Entertainment. We started hanging out and then working together. He was looking Did that open a lot of doors for you? for artists. I met Pimp C through him. When After that album came out, we had so many Trill first signed Lil Boosie, I worked on his first things we were going to do, but when my album For My Thugz. When things quieted brother Pimp C passed away, a lot of those down, I moved to Atlanta and hooked up with things fell flat. Even after that album I was Pimp [C]. He was working with an artist named still working a regular job. I got paid, of course, Young Smitty. We would just be in the base- but we all know that just because you do a ment making beats; we came up with some couple beats on a big album doesn’t mean you can retire. I kept doing my thing. Me and Pimp were really good friends, before I even got a placement on a UGK album. It wasn’t just

26 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 26 OZONE MAG // 27 by Randy Roper

YEAR HOT NEW 8ANNIVERSARY 8PRODUCERS Over the last eight years, from Polow Da Don to to , OZONE has featured the best producers behind the boards. To cel- ebrate our 8th Anniversary, we selected eight producers or production teams that are providing the freshest sounds in Hip Hop.

Scoop Deville Chase N. Chase & Hit-Boy Representin’: Los Angeles, Representin’: New Orleans, Production Credits: “I Wanna Production Credits: Lil Wayne f/ Rock,” Snoop Dogg f/ Jay-Z “I Wanna Rock “,” Flo Rida f/ Birdman (The Kings G-Mix),” Fat Joe f/ Young Jeezy “Priceless,” Young Money “Pass The Dutch” “Slow Down (Ha Ha)” & “New Shit,” G-Unit “Kitty Kat” Website: scoopdeville.tumblr.com Website: itsthesurfclub.com (Photo: Official Don)

Da Honorable C-N.O.T.E. DJ Spinz Representin’: Benton Harbor, Michigan Representin’: Atlanta, Georgia Production Credits: Flo Rida f/ Lil Wayne Production Credits: Travis Porter “Go “American Superstar,” Gudda Gudda f/ Shorty Go,” Travis Porter “Get Naked,” Waka Flocka Flame “Locked My CEO Up,” “Gorilla Zoe “iBall,” Roscoe Dash “Sexy Girl “Lingo,” Rocko f/ Cam’ron & E-40 Anthem” “Lingo (Remix)” Website: twitter.com/spinzhoodrich Website: twitter.com/honorablecnote 1500 or Nothin’: Representin’: Los Angeles, California Nard & B. Production Credits: The Game f/ Travis Representin’: Atlanta, Georgia Barker “” & Game f/ Keyshia Production Credits: f/ T-Pain “All The Cole “Game’s Pain,” Drake f/ Above,” T.I. f/ B.o.B. “On Top Of The World,” “Killers” Yung LA f/ Rico Barrino “Futuristic Love,” Website: www.1500ornothin.com Willy Northpole f/ B.o.B. “Hood Dreamer” Website: www.myspace.com/nardandb- For exclusive interviews with these pro- beatz ducers, log on to Ozonemag.com.

Alex Da Kid Representin’: New York, New York (via London, United Kingdom) Production Credits: Nicki Minaj “Massive Attack,” B.o.B. f/ Hayley Williams (of Para- more) “Airplanes,” B.o.B. f/ Eminem and Hayley Williams “Airplanes Part 2,” Emi- nem f/ Rihanna “Love The Way You Lie” Website: twitter.com/alexdakid

Needlz Representin’: Lansing, Michigan Production Credits: Young Jeezy f/ Drake & Lil Wayne “I’m Goin’ In,” “Letter To Big,” Young Jeezy “Greatest Trapper Alive,” “Gone,” Pill “On Da Corner” Website: www.needlz.net

28 // OZONE MAG (above L-R): Big Boi & his son @ Stankonia for Big Boi’s listening party in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Julia Beverly); Freeway Ricky Ross & @ Echelon in Atlanta, GA (Photo: Malik Abdul); Nelly & Birdman on the set of “Money Talks” in St Louis, MO (Photo: King Yella)

01 // Bu & Shawn “Tubby” Holiday @ Havana Club for BMI’s Urban Showcase (Atlanta, GA) 02 // Coach K & Coach @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL) 03 // JW & Bigga Rankin @ Plush (Jacksonville, FL) 04 // Cory Mo & TJ Chapman on the set of B.o.B.’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 05 // Byron Wright, Travis Porter, & Catherine Brewton @ Havana Club for BMI’s Urban Showcase (Atlanta, GA) 06 // , , City Spud, & Murphy Lee on the set of “Money Talks” (St Louis, MO) 07 // Guest, Arab, Soulja Boy, Jabar, & Bay Bay @ Spring Bling (Daytona Beach, FL) 08 // Flo Rida & Git Fresh (Seoul, South Korea) 09 // DJ Smallz & DJ Quick Mixx Rick @ Stankonia (Atlanta, GA) 10 // Jus Bleezy & Ruka Puff on the set of “Money Talks” (St Louis, MO) 11 // Sean Garrett & Lil Bankhead @ the BMI Urban Showcase (Atlanta, GA) 12 // Rob Love, Tony Neal, & Ray Rizzy @ Tongue & Groove for Ray Rizzy’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 13 // & Terrence Tyson @ Nocturnal for OZONE’s Free Weezy party (Miami, FL) 14 // Lil Rock Dogs & Macksippi (Indianola, MS) 15 // Video models on the set of Mon E G & Masspike Miles’ video shoot (Miami, FL) 16 // Janee Bolden, Mecca, & Angela Yee @ Omega Red’s press junket (San Juan, Puerto Rico) 17 // OJ da Juiceman, DJ Holiday, & Green Lantern @ Converse’s celebrity basketball game (Atlanta, GA)

Photo Credits: Edward Hall (14); Julia Beverly (01,05,08,17); King Yella (06,10); Malik Abdul (04,12,15); Maurice Garland (16); Ms Rivercity (09,11); Terrence Tyson (02,03,07,13)

OZONE MAG // 29 PIMP C’s GREATEST HITS Words by Maurice G. Garland Photo by Julia Beverly

hen Pimp C passed away three years ago, he was no stranger to controversy. Much of Wthe last years of his life were spent ruf- fling feathers, whether it was in interviews or songs he recorded. UGK fans knew he was never one to hold his tongue, so his public tirades never came any real sur- prise. Always speaking his mind and expressing himself, Pimp C has left us plenty of moments and quotables to remember him by. Here are a few we picked out.

GREATEST HITS ON WAX:

“Diamonds & Wood” ”” Ridin Dirty is perhaps the most personal album in UGK’s catalogue, One of the main verses that kept him on our minds throughout and “Diamonds & Wood” is one of the rare times in Pimp C’s lyrical the “Free Pimp C” campaign, here he laid it out flat for low-balling history that he showed vulnerability. He touched on everything hustlers “trying to get the cheaper price” and the consequences from enemies lurking in shadows to vengeful baby mamas. The song has awaiting them. He even made a fashion statement: “Polo, fuck that Hilfiger.” quotables for days and some of its lines have been re-used by many rap- pers, including E-40. ”The Game Belongs To Me” Depending on how long they’re locked away, when friends and ”Aint That A Bitch” family get out of prison, the world often leaves them behind. “Bitch” is a word often used in rap songs, but here Pimp actually Pimp was only gone for four years, but a lot changed in that time, explained the term and made it into a double entendre that would especially with new technology and cell phones. Even pimpin’ changed: even make Jay-Z listen harder. If you bought the album “pimping ain’t dead, it just moved to the web.” when it (finally) came out, you probably wanted to yell the song’s title at the top of your lungs because Jive Records edited out most of the cursing. ”Top Notch Hoes” Thankfully, the uncensored version is widely available on the internet now. A rare gem from the UGK catalog, this song only appeared on either the Dirty Money bootleg or the Trill Azz Mixes mixtape. Most of ”Sippin On Some Syrup” the song was about sexual escapades, but Pimp still found room to In hindsight, some may feel that Pimp’s enjoyment of this potion is make bold statements against anyone he thought was “dissing my friends.” the very thing that led to his demise. But looking beyond that, the Namely The Roots, who he felt were mocking Too $hort in their “What They classic line “Take that monkey shit off, you embarrassing us” has be- Do” video. come the standard critique for any person or action that makes Southerners look bad. ”Hi-Life” Another instance of Pimp taking off of the shades and allowing ”Swishas & Dosha” the world to look him in the eye. “Tired of living fucked up, tired of On the first track of UGK’s long-awaited return , living bad / Tired of hearing Grandmama say, ‘When you gonna go Pimp came out with guns blazing, going off on the new crop of to church, Chad?’” is a line that most of us could relate to. “I wish that I could rappers who obviously were nothing like their predecessors. Calling tell you I wore a rubber everytime / But if I told you that, nigga, you know them everything from “hoe niggas” to “homosexual on-the-low niggas,” that I be lyin’” is probably the realest line you’ll ever hear a rapper spit. Pimp let it be known that he didn’t think too too highly of today’s rap stars. ”I Feel Like I’m The One That’s Doing Dope” ”Knockin Doors Down” In his later years, Pimp’s persona often outshadowed his actual cre- Did every Southern rapper in the history of rap get along? Of course ative talents as a producer, songwriter, rapper and storyteller. This not. But while Pimp was locked away, beefs between T.I. and Lil Flip, solo song from Hard To Swallow is perhaps his darkest (or depending Z-Ro and , and Chamillionare and Paul Wall threatened on who you ask, psychotic) opus. Right up there with ’ “Mind Play- to destroy the legacy that Pimp and his peers help build. So like any O.G. ing Tricks on Me” and The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Suicidal Thoughts,” Pimp’s audio would do, Pimp put all of them on blast. Needless to say, all of these beefs nightmare of being a murderous, suicidal, diseased rapist crackhead (yes, are finished now. that is a lot going on) came out way before became the gimmick it was in the mid-90s.

30 // OZONE MAG GREATEST HITS OFF WAX: understand our type of music – like yo’ book [OZONE] and the XXLs and The Sources, I ain’t hear nobody complaining... I heard people complain about how long the record was in and Spin Magazine, On Rappers Carrying Guns muthafuckers that don’t know too much about our music in the first place, This is a dangerous industry. It’s foul. With as many devils and but hey, man, fuck them. We ain’t makin’ it for them. (OZONE Magazine) vultures and hogs and wicked people that are involved in [the rap game], I think every [artist] ought to have a license to carry guns – On felons or no felons. So off top, if [the police] pull a rap nigga over and he’s Last time I checked, Russell Simmons was a multi-billionaire, and got a gun, shit, he’s probably got a gun because he’s scared somebody he made his money off niggas saying the “n” word and cussing on else with a gun is gonna try to do something [to him]. records... If you’re a billionaire off rap music and you want us to stop cussin’, give us that billion dollars back and let us throw a party in that On “video models” muthafuckin’ mansion you’ve got. Or forever hold your peace. I like to do when I get to my video set? I like to just fire all the broads that are already there. I just fire everybody, send On Down-Low Brothers ‘em all home. Shit, I’ll bring my own crew of bitches. I’d rather have It’s no gay-bashing with me. It’s just, be proud of what you are, a real live prostitute bitch on the set than some bitch that’s been fucking instead of hidin’ in the closet. And if ya fuck boys in the ass, then the director and got promised a spot in my video. (OZONE Magazine) don’t be tryna fuck with the girls, too, poisoning the pussy popula- tion wit’ ya shitty ol’ dirty-ass dick. (XXL Magazine) On Pimpin’ In the Music Industry We’re talkin’ about pimpin’ and hoeing, [but] the biggest pimps On Going to Prison are the record labels and the biggest hoes are these muthafuckin’ I feel like I got the shelf, preserved, so I could come back rap niggas. Rap niggas and entertainers are getting hoe’d more later and do something positive. If ‘Pac hadn’t got out of prison, he than any prostitute I’ve ever seen on any track or any bitch I’ve ever seen might still be alive today. Maybe there was a worse fate out there selling pussy. Muthafuckers get out here and do all the work and risk their waiting for me. (OZONE Magazine) lives, get shot, see their homeboys get shot, go to jail, all kinds of shit. Take all the risk and another muthafucker gets the lion’s share of the money? On R&B Singers Hey, mayne, if that ain’t pimpin’, you tell me what is. (OZONE Magazine) I ain’t out here dressing up trying to be sexy licking my lips like old gay ass Ne-Yo. Pussy dick-in-the-booty ass niggas wearing all On Balance in Hip Hop that gotdamn lip gloss at their video shoots and letting niggas put A lot of people attack music like the Soulja Boy music, but hey makeup on their face. Yeah, I said Ne-Yo, you heard what the fuck I said. man, my kids love that. And “Laffy Taffy,” that was my shit. I liked Niggas putting lip gloss on they fuckin’ lips looking like they’ve that shit... We need fun records... That dude from the “Laffy Taffy” just been eating a pork chop sandwich with no hands. (OZONE Magazine) song, Fabo, that nigga is one of the most gangsterist niggas I’ve ever seen. He’ll beat a nigga to death if you fuck with him at the club. We need On Rappers Lying those types of records to balance out all the other shit. (OZONE Magazine) Everybody on these records are lying. Everybody is this big D-boy, these hardcore gangstas... Truth be told, we too blessed and we On Media Criticism making too much money in this rap game to be going to war with I heard a little bit of criticism [of the album] from magazines that each other. Truth be told, dont nobody want to fight nobody in this rap don’t understand our type of music, but all the magazines that do game because 98% of these dudes is cowards. (Hot 107.9 Atlanta)

OZONE MAG // 31 by Maurice G. Garland

FORGOTTEN YEAR HIP HOP 8ANNIVERSARY 8HONORS

When Vh1 announced they were going to be a doing a “Dirty South” version of their show, it received mixed reactions. When they got around to announcing who would be honored, the reactions weren’t mixed at all. They were pretty direct as many pioneers and fans voiced their displeasure of being left off or misrepresented. Here are a few:

< JT Money Jackin’ Tourist for Money has always been left out of casual conversations when it comes to speaking about the great- est artists to come out of the South. Hell, we ourselves even made the grave mistake of not including any Poison Clan albums in our 20 Essential Southern Albums list in 2006. So you can’t really be too surprised that the Bitch-izer wasn’t mentioned at the show, not even during Luke’s set.

8Ball & MJG > To Ball & G’s credit, Vh1 probably didn’t want to honor the Living Legends because they are nowhere near retiring or disappearing. They actually released their 8th studio album just a month before the show was filmed, so maybe they were out

BOGAN promoting the album and couldn’t make it anyway. Well hold on, they did honor Snoop Dogg and he’s still releasing music right? Yeah, our guess is that no one at Vh1 probably heard of them.

< Three Six Mafia

Easily, the worst oversight of the Dirty South Hip Hop Honors is the fact that they JULIA BEVERLY didn’t honor any artists from Memphis. Not even the only rap group to ever win an Academy Award. How does Oscar know more about Memphis Hip Hop than Fab 5 Freddy and Nelson George?

DJ Screw > The Hip Hop Honors haven’t recognized a DJ since the second annual ceremony

EDWARD HALL EDWARD anyway, so we really shouldn’t be shocked that DJ Screw wasn’t recognized. The fact that they had a “” set and didn’t have not one member on stage is also laughable.

< DJ Magic Mike We’re assuming that by honoring Luther Campbell (and 2Live Crew separately, which was odd), the Hip Hop Honors wanted to recognize Bass music with one sweeping motion since Luke has always been considered the face of the genre. If that’s the case DJ Magic Mike is the hands, arms and legs.

Tony Draper > To honor and J Prince and leave out Tony Draper is sad. Draper’s Suave House records was the first Southern label to even get the big wigs and checkwrit- ers in New York and Los Angeles to even pay attention. He has every right to be upset.

< Geto Boys Scarface, Willie D, Bushwhick Bill (, Prince Johnny C, The Slim Jukebox, DJ Ready Red too if you want get technical) should’ve already been honored in one of the previous shows. Their contributions and controversy were bigger than the “dirty south.”

UGK > The harsh reality is that UGK is no longer a rap group. We won’t be getting anymore UGK albums, songs or features. The name and legacy will always be alive, but at the end of the day, the group is no more since Pimp C is deceased. Having Bun B perform on the show was great, but he really should’ve been in the balcony getting honored too. RAY TAMARRA RAY

32 // OZONE MAG (above L-R): KLC & Mystikal @ House of Blues in Houston, TX (Photo: Julia Beverly); Nicki Minaj @ Plush in Jacksonville, FL (Photo: Terrence Tyson); Yelawolf @ St Andrews for Bizarre’s album release party in Detroit, MI (Photo: Malik Abdul)

01 // Omar, Rob Love, & Stay Fresh @ Tongue & Groove for Ray Rizzy’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 02 // Mr Collipark on the set of “Daze” (Atlanta, GA) 03 // DJ Daisy Dukes @ Tongue & Groove for Ray Rizzy’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 04 // Masspike Miles, Mon E G, & Torch on the set of Mon E G & Masspike Miles’ video shoot (Miami, FL) 05 // Eye Candy model Britthany @ The Loft (St Louis, MO) 06 // Juvenile @ Tongue & Groove for Ray Rizzy’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 07 // Mo Spoon @ The Loft (St Louis, MO) 08 // Yung Joc @ Spring Bling (Daytona Beach, FL) 09 // Virgie Man @ Club Nuvo (Leland, MS) 10 // Vic Damone @ The Loft (St Louis, MO) 11 // Master P @ Spring Bling (Daytona Beach, FL) 12 // Short Dawg @ Vice Lounge (Atlanta, GA) 13 // Juney Boomdata, the Hip Hop Barber, Rage, & Miami Mike on the set of “Daze” (Atlanta, GA) 14 // Jabar on the set of “Daze” (Atlanta, GA) 15 // Papa Duck (Indianola, MS) 16 // Natalie Nunn, Jeremy, & Jerri @ Questions (Pittsburgh, PA) 17 // Rico Brooks on the set of B.o.B.’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 18 // Ray Rizzy & Juvenile @ Tongue & Groove for Ray Rizzy’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 19 // Pookie of Urban South @ Mansion for Dorrough’s Gangsta & OZONE release party (Dallas, TX) 20 // Playboy Tre on the set of B.o.B.’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 21 // Roland & Lara @ The Loft (St Louis, MO) 22 // Eye Candy model Nicole @ The Loft (St Louis, MO) 23 // D Rocc @ Tongue & Groove for Ray Rizzy’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 24 // Benny @ Vice Lounge (Atlanta, GA) 25 // P Wonda @ Tongue & Groove for Ray Rizzy’s video shoot (Atlanta, GA) 26 // DJ Holiday @ Vice Lounge (Atlanta, GA) 27 // Lil C @ Hot Beats for Lil C’s listening party (Atlanta, GA) 28 // Eye Candy model Lona @ The Loft (St Louis, MO) 29 // Bree D’Val @ Vice Lounge (Atlanta, GA) 30 // Beat Gang (Cincinnati, OH) 31 // BallGreezy @ Club Cinema (Pompano Beach, FL) 32 // Mary Datcher and Global Mixx from Do or Die @ Delta Nights (Indianola, MS) 33 // Big Teach @ Spring Bling (Daytona Beach, FL) 34 // Big Hood & Miami Mike on the set of “Daze” (Atlanta, GA) 35 // Devyne Stephens @ Park Tavern for ATL Live (Atlanta, GA)

Photo Credits: Edward Hall (09,15,32); Julia Beverly (19); Malik Abdul (01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08,10,11,12,13,14,16,17,18,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,33,34,35); Tammie White (30); Travis Pendergrass (31)

OZONE MAG // 33 fter the success of his smash single “” and Have you picked out the second single to be the follow-up after “Get self-titled debut album, kept the momentum Big”? Agoing with the release of his Gangsta Grillz mixtape and sopho- The ladies are loving “Breakfast in Bed” featuring Ray J, and a lot of people more album Get Big. The motivated Texan talks about staying on his are feeling “Get ‘Em Live” featuring Jim Jones. So it’s [a decision] between indie grind and avoiding the usual beefs and gimmicks. those two right now, but my personal favorite record is “MIA.”

So your new album Get Big is in stores now, right? DJ Khaled used to be your labelmate at E1, but he recently left. How Yep, the album is in stores. I went on 106th & Park to promote it, so, so far does that affect your situation? so good. “Get Big” was number six or on the countdown. I’ve been I feel like it’s given me the chance to step up and become the priority at getting a lot of positive feedback from this album. We’re trying to choose the label. I’ve kinda been at the forefront of the label besides Khaled, so I the next single and everybody’s feeling certain records, so that’s a good think between myself and Slim Thug, I think we’re really going to hold the thing even though it makes [the selection] more difficult. label down. I think they’re really going to step up and make me and my projects a priority. Losing Khaled on their side is probably a big loss, but What else do you have planned to promote the album? with what I’ve got in store, I feel like it’s really going to be a good look. I’m I’m shooting visuals for every song on the album. I did a huge album definitely going to step up to the plate. release party and I’m on the road too. I’m not “on tour” but I’m doing spot dates, and I’m gone all week, feel me? So it’s pretty much the same thing At one point Koch was known as the graveyard for artists, but now as a tour. I’m hitting the road and promoting, definitely working on these they’ve got a new name – E1 – and it seems like the perception of the visuals, getting my street team out in the streets promoting, stepping up label has changed. my online presence, and the whole nine. A lot of people don’t realize that Koch is still an independent label, and that’s how I look at it. I’m an independent artist doing major things. I just What can people expect from Get Big in comparison to your previous look at it as a situation where I can learn and make my situation better. projects? It’s almost like being in college. You have to use it to keep your own I definitely stepped it up on this album. My lyrics are stronger, my pro- movement going, and you can learn how to maneuver a lot better when duction is stronger, and my concepts are stronger. I think my concepts you’re independent because you have to do a lot of stuff on your own. set my album apart from any other album and even my past projects But yeah, I think a lot of people go over to Koch and don’t have the mind- just because of the concepts. There are fifteen songs but if you buy it set of working as hard as they’ve been working, or even harder. They feel from Best Buy or on iTunes you get several bonus tracks. Anybody else like the label is supposed to do everything, but Koch ain’t that type of dropping an album is only giving you nine or ten or eleven songs. So my label. It’s not the type of label where you expect them to do everything album is just a step up. The title is Get Big and I’ve been doing it bigger for you, and you’re not supposed to do that with any label, but you and better than I’ve been doing it before, and bigger and better than a definitely can’t do that here. You’ve got to work your ass off and whatever lot of other projects that are out right now. they’re going to do for you is just a plus. That’s my mindframe and that’s why things seem to be moving a different way. If you’ve got that mental- Do you see a lot of Dallas artists taking advantage of the door you’ve ity you’re always going to win. helped open for the city? Yeah, there’s a big support system here in Dallas. Right now a lot of Is there anyone you want to collaborate with that you haven’t worked people are watching me and a lot of people are rooting for me. You don’t with yet? know who’s rooting against you, but it’s not really about that to me. It’s Yeah, I’ve worked with a lot of artists, but I think it will happen in time. more about the fans in Dallas. I’m trying to put on for Dallas no matter Working with some of the bigger artists will come because my name is what the situation is, and I feel like I’ve been doing that since day one, going to get bigger and bigger. I’m more anxious to just keep making so that’s a given. Right now my focus is not just on putting on for Dallas, because at the end of the day, who you work with doesn’t it’s about putting on for the whole region and the whole South. A lot of necessarily make you or break you. Sometimes you’re just drowning [artists] in Dallas are doing their thing too, so I’m supporting the people yourself out. I love working with different artists if they’ve got something who support me. Of course I’ve got the Primetime Click, so shout out to going on, but it’s never my priority. Lil Tony, Ace Boogie, and others who aren’t in my camp like Big T and Fat Pimp who are out here grinding. They’re doing their thing. Any luxury purchases you’ve indulged in lately aside from your jew- elry? Is Diamond still down with the Primetime Click? I’ve been taking care of my family for the past year. I’ve got a huge family, Yeah, Diamond is still affiliated with us. She’s doing her thing out in ATL probably bigger than anyone would ever expect. I’ve been taking care of making a name for herself, making herself bigger than she already is, and my daughter, my brothers and sisters, and my mama and daddy. I’ve just she’s growing as an artist. She’s been touring and she’s really got a great been taking care of the fam and I’ve been on the road a lot. position on the female Hip Hop side. We’re working on some projects together and are going to start getting some visuals together. On my last Were you happy with the response you got to your Gangsta Grillz project I really didn’t put out too many visuals, but with this project and mixtape with DJ Drama? everything else I’m working on, we’re definitely going to take advantage Oh yeah. The Drama mixtape actually set off the “Get Big” single. It was of that. on Drama’s mixtape and the [feedback] was so good that we ended up making it a single, so that shows you how effective the mixtape was. The A lot of artists lately seem to use gimmicks and beef to get their names single just got to number 16 in the country and it’s a top 40 crossover, out there, but you seem to stay away from it for the most part. Is that so that’s a big record, and it’s still growing. Also, the record with Yo Gotti intentional? made my album, and that was a huge record out here in Texas. The Gang- I only engage in what’s natural. I don’t go looking for animosity. I feel like sta Grillz mixtape was very effective, so shout out to DJ Drama. if you’ve got so many things on your mind and so much on the agenda, how can you have time to search for beef? Even dealing with the [contro- Is there anything else you want to plug? versy over] the Hurricane Chris record, after that died down, I really just I’m promoting the album and I have a real big project for Super Bowl focused on my music. A lot of that stuff can take you out of your zone weekend coming out, so I want to give people a heads up. I’m always and away from what you’re supposed to be doing as far as crafting music. working. // Sometimes it happens – if somebody is beefing with you sometimes it’s appropriate to step up and engage you, but other times it’s a waste of Words by Julia Beverly effort and it’s a bad look to go that route.

34 // OZONE MAG DORROUGH GETTIN’ BIGGER

Words by Julia Beverly Photo by Derick G

OZONE MAG // 35 What’s the difference between your previous solo albums and Trill OG? it. I’m not here to judge nobody for what they say or what they do, unless I think the first Trill album really established me as a solo artist. Trill OG, with they’re saying it about me. I choose to be a lyrical artist. I still keep it real in everything that happened over the last couple years, just having to regroup my lyrics though, and street niggas can still understand what I’m sayin’. He emotionally and musically, it’s just time to get back to business. doesn’t have to be lyrical if he don’t want to. That shit ain’t no requirement in the game. And that’s the problem. Everybody wanna act like rap started How hard have the last couple of years been for you, both musically and with and Nas and De La Soul. And while these people made critical emotionally? contributions to the game, that’s not all of what rap is. Everybody making I mean, of course, as everyone knows, I’ve had my ups and downs. But we music ain’t lyrical. We’ve got Rap and Hip Hop legends that weren’t always get stronger everyday. And the spirit of Pimp C still lives on, within us and lyrical, but they did entertain people. With the way they contributed and within the music. We just take it one day at a time, man. the way they got down, they are considered legends. I don’t think anyone is gonna sit here and say that the Fat Boys were lyrical legends, but they Was this your first album recording completely without Pimp? are legends. I think everybody is taking everybody too seriously. I think we Yeah, I guess in that sense you can say so. Like I said, the spirit of Pimp C should just start minding our own business and doing what we do. The still lives on. The majority of the album was produced by Steve Below. Steve more we put labels on this shit, the more we have confusion. Below produced on UGK albums under Pimp C, so the UGK sound, that bass, that knock in the trunk, that organ, the melody, we’ll still have the Recently, you performed at a Haiti relief concert in Houston. Do you feel music. We’re also working with people that understand and respect the UGK it’s a rapper’s responsibility to participate in events like that? sound, like the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Jazze Pha, and Pharrell. [The album] will I think if you’re a person of influence and a person that other people will sound similar to what you heard before, and one or two will sound a little follow to help a situation, you should. You don’t have to be a rapper, but if bit different, but I’m not trying to step outside of my character. For example, you’re an athlete, an entertainer, a politician, or just a person in the hood when I’m working with a person like Pharrell, we gotta meet each other that people follow and people respect your opinion, then you’ve gotta halfway, cause I can’t really do what everybody else does with Pharrell. bring attention to things like that. Otherwise, what’s the point in having power? As a rapper, I can make money and get all the superficial shit that If seems like you collaborate with just about everyone, and you’re always kinda comes with the job. But it’s the extra shit that doesn’t come with the doing features. Why do you choose to work with so many artists? job, the responsibility and the power, that you’ve gotta learn how to handle I just try to keep the movement going. For me personally as an artist, to and treat with respect and honor. We show people that we care, and we keep my juices going, it’s good to always go out there, exercise and shoot respect certain situations and we’re going to stand up for people. And that’s jumpers. You know, like going out to the park and playing a couple games. I what Hip Hop Houston For Haiti was all about. like to know that I . So, I go out, I work with the young’ns, the best and the brightest in the game right now. We exchange creative energy, we Now, you’ve been in the game for a long time and you’ve worked with a put together great music and great art, and have great fun and entertain lot of artists, but is there anyone that you haven’t worked with yet that the people. And let the people know that I’m still here doing it, just as good, you still would want to? or even better than some of the people that’s still doing it. I mean, you’d be ignorant as an MC to not want to work with someone like Dr. Dre. Lyrically, I don’t feel like you’re a lyricist until you’ve went bar What do you think has been the main thing that’s been able to keep you for bar on a song with a brother like Nas. Right now, I think those are the in the game for so long? last two. I just recorded some stuff with DJ Quik, who I’ve looked up to for I think it’s the fact that I still want it. That hunger is still there inside of me years, and had a long mutual respect for each other. And we finally, after to be the best. As much as I’ve achieved throughout my career, there’s still 18 years, got a chance to work together. I’m very excited about that. Also, I some areas in which I care to attain [more]; there’s still some levels that I’m got the chance to work with DJ Premier on my new album. Again, another still trying to get on. I’m an OG, but there’s still things that the OG hasn’t long time friend, mutual respect on both sides, of course, my prayers go out seen yet. And I’m not giving up on that just because of how many years I’ve to Guru. So, I’ve been blessed throughout my career to earn the respect of already been in the game, or my age, or whatever the case may be. I don’t every artist that I’ve wanted to work with to the point to where I’ve been feel like anything anybody else got their hands on, I can’t get my hands on. able to work with them. It’s just a matter of time, and I’m patient. Word is that Trill OG features a “Hip Hop legend and a cultural icon.” Can How many more albums are you thinking about doing? you talk about that song? I put together No Mixtape, which was over 20 songs, real quick. That wasn’t I’d really hate to give that away. II think it’s gonna be something that just even meant to be a mixtape. That was just me going in and letting my drives people crazy. It’s a lighthearted song, it’s a fun song, it’s an energetic creative juices go. And that thing just ended up going out the trunk and be- song. Some people are going to flip when they hear it. If I say too much, I’ll coming a mixtape on its own. I can do this all day, if the people wanna hear give it away. But it’s big. It’s really big. me do it all day. But we’ve been getting a good response on No Mixtape. We’ve been getting a good response on all the remixes I’ve been on, like “I We can assume there will be some Pimp C verses on your album, right? Look Good” and “Homegurl’” and all these different features that I do. People Well, I’m not sitting on Pimp C verses. Any Pimp C verses that I use come are still excited about the music and definitely wanna hear that trill sound, directly from [his] estate. Pimp C’s legacy, music, and lyrics are all controlled so as long as they wanna hear it, I’m gonna give it to them. I’m not trying to by his estate, which is controlled by his wife. I’m blessed to say that I have force nothing down people’s throat. a great working relationship with her, so I was able to get some [verses] for my album. Pimp C’s solo album is coming later this year, and it’s incredible. You never really had major mainstream success, but artists and all your It almost sent me back in the lab a couple times. I’d listen to my album, peers respect you. Are you content with the UGK legacy? then I’d listen to his album, and how intense everything was put together. Well, I beg to differ. I think UGK has had a great number of mainstream Just the precision of knowing how he wanted everything to sound and successes. We had an album that was #1 on the , not just the everything put together, his foresight, it’s just unbelievable. And his album #1 Rap album or the#1 Independent album or the #1 R&B album, but the #1 is going to really take people by surprise. It’s called The Naked Soul of Sweet album, period. We had Grammy nominations, we’ve won countless awards James Jones. from BET, and of course, your very own OZONE Awards, so UGK has received its accolades, in its own right and respect. And UGK is a legacy that I’m more Is there anything else you want to tell us about your new album? than proud of. Yeah, there were some other things that I’m sure myself I’m putting a lot into this album. A lot of people, when they listen to the and Pimp would have liked to achieve, but looking back on it, I can’t knock album, like Birdman, Drake, 8Ball & MJG, Young Jeezy, they say this is that what we put down. It’s still history. There are still young artists coming in old Bun. This is that raw Bun, and that’s what a lot of people have really the game, contributing their two cents, and they’re [achieving] the things been wanting to hear from me. I think the problem was that people were me and Pimp put down on 18 years ago. So, I’m going to always look at that so worried about taking advantage of radio opportunities that we hadn’t as something to be proud of. But continuing a new movement for myself, had before, and media opportunities that we hadn’t had before, and didn’t and there’s another Pimp C album coming, I think we’ll still be able to add realize that at the end of the day, my core audience is still from the street, something to that legacy before it’s all over. and they need to be catered to. And that’s what we went back to with this album. If you’ve got a good song, it’s gonna make it on the radio. You don’t You’ve always been a lyrical rapper. When you hear a new rapper like have to make something for the radio. If you got something’s that’s jam- Waka Flocka Flame saying he doesn’t have or need lyrics, how do you min’ and the streets love it, they’re gon’ make the radio play it. It’s just that feel? simple. We just went back to the raw and uncut. That’s why I called it the Trill I mean, he’s saying he doesn’t need lyrics to succeed, and if that’s him, then OG album. I couldn’t call myself the Trill OG if I wasn’t on some OG shit with kudos to him. Everybody’s gonna do what they wanna do and how they do this album. And we’re definitely getting our OG on. //

36 // OZONE MAG BUN B STILL STANDING

Since the sudden and heartbreak- ing loss of his comrade Chad “Pimp C” Butler, Bun B’s job of carrying on the UGK legacy they built to- gether hasn’t been easy. Still, he’s determined to keep it trill. Within the last year alone, he’s collabo- rated with everyone from Bird- man and Rick Ross to , and many artists in between and released a much-hyped project (No Mixtape). Yes, Bun Beater is a Hip Hop OG, but he’s not done yet. Matter of fact, he doesn’t plan to hang up his mi- crophone any time soon. Bun’s new album Trill OG IS PROOF OF THAT. make no mistake about it; it still is and will forever be UGK for life and R.I.P. Pimp C. Words by Randy Roper

OZONE MAG // 37 by Randy Roper & Maurice G. Garland YEAR STILL PATIENTLY 8ANNIVERSARY 8WAITING In the last 8 years, OZONE’s Patiently Waiting section has featured some of rap’s biggest stars (and duds) long before other outlets started paying attention. While many (Akon, Pitbull, T-Pain, and Rick Ross, just to name a few) have gone on to superstardom and others into oblivion, a few are still around trying to get that one big look to take them to next level. Hell, some of them haven’t even dropped an album yet after all of these years. Here are 8 artists who have managed to remain relevant while they continue to wait for their time in the spotlight.

< Big Kuntry Big Kuntry King (uh, c’mon!) has always been the most visible member of the P$C besides T.I. and unfortunately he’s spent a lot of time behind that shadow as well. After a couple successful mixtapes and scoring some underground club hits, Kuntry finally saw his debut album hit stores…on the same day as T.I.’s Paper Trail. Since then, Kuntry has laid pretty low, only releasing a few records here and there. Hopefully he will get chance to feast the next time around. Bishop Lamont > When Bishop Lamont signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Records he was supposed to follow in the platinum footsteps of Eminem, , The Game and . But even after dropping a string of acclaimed mixtapes he wound up getting

KING YELLA KING sucked into the Detox vortex and sat on the shelf for five years. With no release date for his album The Reformation in sight, Lamont finally parted ways with Aftermath. < Brisco Being signed to two of the more successful labels of the last four years (Poe Boy and Cash Money), you’d think that ’s album would have dropped by now. But his Street Medicine album has yet to find a cure to prevent its constant delays. Brisco MS RIVERCITY has kept himself relevant via internet videos (both good and bad), but the “Street Medicine coming soon” messages at the end are starting to lose their luster. C-Ride > This Miami rapper signed with production tandem Cool & Dre’s Epidemic label all the way back in 2004 and six years later we’ve yet to get an album out of the situ- ation. C-Ride must be doing something right, though. As revealed in his OZONE

TERRENCE TYSON TERRENCE cover story earlier this year, he’s turned down deals from Sony, Universal and can still afford to blow up to $2,500 in the strip club on a weekly basis. < Glasses Malone After The Game made West Coast Hip Hop matter again, labels went looking for the next big thing. Sony thought it was , so they dropped $1.7 million on him and gave him his own label. Fast-forward: Glasses wound up leaving the label

and doing a joint venture with and ’s Hoo-Bangin’ JULIA BEVERLY imprint. He’s been paired with everyone from Akon to T-Pain to Lil Wayne but he’s still yet to secure that hit that will make his backers confident enough to drop his long awaited album The . Jody Breeze > Believe it or not, when Jody Breeze came onto the scene, he was just as hot and anticipated as his former Boyz N Da Hood partner Young Jeezy. But after a shelved D-RAY debut album, his label home (Jazze Pha’s Shonuff) crumbling and Boyz N Da Hood becoming an afterthought, fans still don’t have a proper Jody Breeze album. Each of his mixtapes, however, continues to show flashes of potential and keep fans interested. Hopefully with the internet and a restructured music industry, Jody Breeze can find a way to finally deliver the project that people have been waiting six years for now. < Mack Maine After Curren$y left Lil Wayne’s Young Money crew for literally “greener” pastures, Mack Maine looked to be the heir apparent to the rap throne that pop star Weezy would leave vacant someday. Well, Mr. Carter still hasn’t gone anywhere and Mack MS RIVERCITY Maine has yet to release an album. Actually, it doesn’t look like he’s sweating com- ing out with one soon, since he’s President of the company now. So you might as well just treat those Freestyle 101, Bitch I’m Mack Maine and This Is Just A Mixtape mixtapes like actual albums. Slick Pulla > Primed to fit right into the lane that Young Jeezy carved out for him, Slick Pulla made a name for himself in the mixtape circuit with some solid performances and D-RAY commendable lyricism. But street scuffles and legal troubles began to mar his career to the point that some folks actually thought his name was “Free Slick Pulla.” He was finally released from jail earlier this year, and is trying to get back on track in the rap game to release his debut album, The Trapublican. MALIK ABDUL MALIK

38 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 39 RICK ROSS GROUNDWORK Words & Photo by Julia Beverly

40 // OZONE MAG WITH THREE SOLID ALBUMS UNDER HIS BELT AND THE HIT RECORD Too far in what way? Being addicted? “BMF” TAKING OVER NIGHTCLUBS AND RADIO STATIONS ACROSS THE Tweeting everyone links to your music is not going to break your records. WORLD, MI-YAYO’S RICK ROSS NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION. I think it’s a cool way to find out what’s up, stay in touch, and shout out different markets. If you’re going to do something in the market you can You’ve been talking a lot about “groundwork.” In the music business get a lot of love on Twitter, pay homage to a city or two, and keep it moving today, it seems like that’s a lost art form. Do you think artists in general when you slide through. I think that’s really what it’s good for. have become lazier when it comes to the promotions and marketing? I think overall the music business in general cut back on a lot of promotion. There was a controversial video clip of your artist in Colombia I feel that a lot of artists take shortcuts with all this new technology. But snorting cocaine. What’s your opinion on having somebody in your camp I feel like you really need to have a balance of both. You’ve got to stay in not only using drugs, but putting it out on the ‘net for everyone to see? the streets. I think people still need to see the physical promotion on the Does it concern you at all? streets to capture the essence of your movement. And I think when [labels] That’s my brother and that’s all I’m going to say about that. cut back [on promotion], they tend to cut back on the smaller markets first. Those are the markets I try to still touch, because no market is really too Okay, fair enough. I know you and Diddy have been cool for a while, but small to touch. how did it get to the point where he decided to actually start managing you and partner together on projects? How would you define “groundwork”? You know, that’s the homie. He’s gonna be the homie forever. But we just To me, groundwork entails every aspect of hitting the community and put our business in perspective and now we’re tackling some of these out- making sure they understand you. Regardless if you’re promoting an album side entities that are interested in doing business with me. Endorsements release date or you’re coming into the community to do community work, and such. you need to make sure you accomplish your goal. You have to go straight to the source by hitting the vein of the community and working your way I heard a radio interview where they were comparing you to Biggie and through. It’s pretty easy to find the vein. You just need to get in the streets you didn’t like that too much. But at the same time, it almost does seem and find the masses of people. You can start in a neighborhood or at the like Diddy has Bad Boy Pt. 2 with you and Nicki Minaj filling the part of mall. You really just want to get out there and shake hands and network Biggie and Lil Kim. Do you see that being a valid comparison? and let them know you’re here. I think we’re the hottest in the game, and that’s when the comparisons stop. Biggie was one of a kind, and I’m most definitely doing my thing. Lately you’ve been referring to yourself as Rozay. Are you considering an official name change? It seems like you’re going that direction, and You’ve definitely stepped your game up musically on each album. Even you’re being managed now by Diddy, who of course has been through the critics have noticed the progression. It seems like a lot of artists do several name changes as well. the opposite – their first album is their hottest, and then they fall off over That’s just an alias for me. time. How do you constantly challenge yourself to step it up musically? Just really investing in myself and focusing on the music and nothing else. I Was it related to “Freeway” Ricky Ross’s lawsuit, claiming that you owed feel like that’s really paying off. him money for adopting his name? Not at all. There was an injunction filed against my album but it was When you go in the booth to record, what’s the key to blocking out all dismissed. Overall, that shit isn’t going to work. Do I take it personally? Of the external factors? course not. I feel like he was just rolling the dice, and we’re going to move By the time I’m walking in the booth I’m already in that zone. When I go in forward regardless. the studio I leave everything else outside the studio, regardless, so by the time I go into the booth it’s time to execute the plan. The plan is to sound I just wondered if it was a Diddy suggestion. I’m sure with all the success better than everybody else’s shit. That’s my whole mental process. he’s had over the years, he’s able to give you some good advice. Is there anything he’s told you in particular that stands out? You came out with “BMF” and then Jeezy came out with “The Real BMF” You know we got the rap game on lock. Diddy is great in other arenas. and folks were kind of amping that up into a beef… Aside from my personal situation, he’s got a lot going on outside the music. Man, we getting money and making hits. I’ve been eating steaks every day We have a couple things that we’re negotiating right now outside the music at Ruth’s Chris; prime rib. As far as “BMF,” I was just making a hit record and arena, so we’ll be able to make announcements . It takes time and saluting the big homie [Big Meech] at the same time. everything is in development. What made you go with Teflon Don as the title? You signed a couple producers. Do you think that’s a better route to That was one of my original rap names, and it fit the situation. go, having folks in-house rather than going out and paying for beats externally? You have some artists under you now as well, right? Is that a challenge to You’re asking me? You know that answer. Of course it’s a great thing. Any- be both a manager/CEO and an artist? time you can do business with great producers like The Olympicks and The It’s all about Teflon Don right now as well as Masspike Miles and Triple C’s. Transformers and make them a part of the movement, it’s always a better I’m also managing the MTV-award winning video director Spiff TV. We’re situation. just continuing to build our brand and do what we do. Of course it’s a chal- lenge and that’s why we do it. The greater the challenge, the greater the You’ve been real heavy with putting out viral videos and leaking music reward. on the internet. Do you have the mentality that putting out more music and visuals will push more people to buy your album? I know you’ve been all over the world touring recently. Is there one par- Once your album gets to the stores your shit is going to be on the internet ticular place you’ve been that really stood out to you? anyway, so leaks are not a big deal. That’s happened with every one of my I can find something interesting in every place we’ve been. You can go to albums. To me, I consider a real album “leak” to be one that comes out five Germany and see a 500 year old castle and that’s a real dope experience. or six weeks before the release date. But at the same time, you could be somewhere as simple as Jamaica smok- ing good trees and eating fried fish. You’ve done a lot of charity events in Miami. What do you have coming up with your non-profit? California has taken steps towards legalizing marijuana. Do you feel like Y’all can go to rickrosscharities.com and see what’s crackin’. I let my charity the rest of the country is moving in that direction too? deal with the charity work and I usually don’t talk too much about what we It would be a great day in America. do with the charity, because I think you really should just do that from the heart. I let my team deal with that because they’re the best at it. You would hold the Ricky Rozay Freedom Parade? We might just all put it in the air at the same time once or twice a year. At one point, you were anti-Twitter and making fun of people who were on it. What convinced you to go ahead and join? Would you like to plead to to legalize marijuana in your I still make fun of half of the people that’s on Twitter, but we’ve been get- OZONE cover story? ting so much love we thought it would be a good idea to give back. It’s No thanks. If I talk to Barack Obama it’s going to be big business, no cool, they be quoting your rhymes on Twitter and you can hit a few people nonsense. It’d be about something real important. I’ve got another level of back every now and then, so it’s cool. But some people just take Twitter too respect for that man. I wouldn’t even disrespect the team on that level. // far.

OZONE MAG // 41 : SPIFF TV Words by Julia Beverly

Are you still doing the Spiff TV DVDs? I’m going to do another one soon, but it’s a lot of legal bullshit I’m dealing with from the first one. I did a bad deal with these people in L.A. and they took advantage of me. They mass pressed it up and I didn’t know better. So, fuck them. But I’m still doing my thang with the beats and signing producers and artists. I’ve signed like ten artists to Ross’ roster, including five producers. I signed The Olympicks; they produced a lot of shit. They’re out of Detroit. I signed two more producers out of Dallas called The Transformers, and two writers out of Dallas called Suede Royale and EQ. They’ve been writing and doing a lot of shit. Suede is an artist too. He’s a problem. I’ve also got Cash Chris out of Orlando that I signed to Ross.

How does it feel to be taken seriously now instead of just being an intern? It’s a grind. After you show you’ve got an ear for this, it gets easier. Now they’re getting paid $15k a track. The producers know that once they get the music to me, it’s going to get to the right people. If you make beats and you’re trying to get your beats placed, you can send them to RickRossBeats@ gmail.com.

Do you think it’s harder to sell beats now that there are so many producers trying to get in the game? It’s all about quality. Everybody’s trying to make beats on their laptop on Frooty Loops or something, but you’ve really got to know what you’re doing with the sound. If you can do that, you’re going to get paid for it.

When you film a viral video for Ross do you come up with a treatment or concept or just freestyle it? Sometimes, if Ross just feels like shooting, we freestyle it. I find something dope and we just do it. But usually I have a week or two to prep for it and write a treatment. He has a lot of ideas, so he’ll give me some ideas and we just mash together and write the ideas down and go at it. London was kinda crazy. We did Orlando-based video director SPIFF TV started out hustling a video in front of Buckingham Palace; Ross was smoking weed as an intern for OZONE, Strictly Streets, and DJ Nasty and like, “I always wanted to blow one down with the Queen, but fuck it.” We the Nasty Beatmakers. His relationship with DJ Nasty and shot in St. Maarten and St. Thomas too; we just went to Barbados and shot DJ Khaled, along with his aspirations of becoming a video some crazy stuff over there. We always try to capture the essence of it. If we director, eventually led to a full-time position working were in Jamaica we would get the guys bringing us fresh lobster and cook- with Rick Ross. Spiff has directed dozens of viral videos for ing it right in front of our face. We do it like that. standout records like “Mafia Music 1” and “Mafia Music 2” and serves as an A&R for Ross’s Maybach Music . The internet has opened up a lot of doors for directors such as yourself, because back in the day you would need a large budget and a lot of What are some videos you’ve directed? equipment to film a . I directed “Mafia Music,” the first one off Deeper Than Rap. I did the new The thing that’s so dope now is that you can reach everybody at one time “Mafia Music 2.” I did “Ciroc Stars” for featuring Diddy and Ja- by just turning the camera on and sending it out. You can prep them with dakiss. I did the Waka Flocka “Oh Let’s Do It” remix featuring Diddy and Ross, trailers. I make sure I get the videos to MTV and MTV Jams and they put and a whole lot of viral videos for Ross that you’ve probably seen online. it up right away. As far as editing, they have better and easier programs coming out all the time. You always have to be a step ahead of the game. How did the idea come about to put out a whole bunch of viral videos for Everybody can’t see what you’re shooting with now. I’m online every day Deeper Than Rap? trying to see what the new shit is. While we were recording Deeper Than Rap we were just shooting a video for damn near almost every song on the album. Now you see a lot of other What about on the editing side, did you kinda teach yourself? artists kinda following that formula, dropping videos every other day and Yeah, I sit down with my editor and tell him what I want visually and graphi- every other week. We started that pace. We just shot a video everywhere cally. I know all the shots I shot that look great. You might give footage to we went, whether it was the Bahamas or London or wherever. an editor without saying anything and he doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing, so he won’t cut it right. He may not know what’s fly or not, so you’ve Before you linked up with Ross, you were working with DJ Nasty. What got to show them exactly how to put it together. were you doing with him? Helping getting his beats placed and finding producers. I found The Are you mainly focused on doing Rick Ross videos? Incredibles and signed them to Nasty; they were producing for Jeezy and I’m doing a lot of other things too. I’m doing stuff with Diddy, Chester Ross, and they’ve got a track on Jay-Z’s album. Khaled manages them too. French, Pharrell’s group. I did a video for and Travis McCoy So that’s what I was doing. Before that I was working with you, you know, from Gym Class Heroes; we shot that in Union Square. They did a Fresh vintage OZONE. Crazy shit. With you, I was taking pictures for the magazine Prince and Jazzy-type theme. They were beat boxing and shit. I shot a video and seeing a lot of shit going on. So [I was thinking] damn, we’re with these for Desert Storm’s artist for DJ Clue, Ghost featuring Fab and Ross; that’s a [artists] every day. Let me just pick up a [video] camera and see what hap- good one. pens from there. Then I dropped the first Spiff TV DVD that was in Wal-Mart and everything. It was a lot of Hip Hop and Reggaetone shit, just linking Is there anything else you’d like to say? with artists. Plus [Rick] Ross manages me now so he does all that shit; he Get at me on Twitter, @SpiffTVFilms. Shout out to Maybach Music, May- plugs me with people like Diddy. I’m shooting for Diddy now too. I’ll fly out bach Films, Gucci Pucci, Rick Ross, Mercedes Streets, and JB for giving me a and do a bunch of shit for him. I’m just getting it in. job back in the day riding out in that small ass car. //

42 // OZONE MAG MAYBACH MUSIC GROUP: TORCH Words by Randy Roper Photo by Julia Beverly

How would you describe Rick Ross as a CEO? He gives his artists total freedom. He’s not gon’ spoon feed you, but he’s gon’ let you know what you need to be doing. He’s hands-on when it comes to the music. Once it gets to that point where he’s about to put it out, he’s gonna critique it down to the littlest ad-lib on the track, cause it’s a representa- tion of him and his label. Maybach is the top-of-the-line car, and Maybach Music Group is the top-of-the-line in music. So he has to make sure that it meets our standard before we put it out. But with that said, he’s not one of those artist CEOs that’s gonna spoon feed you. He’s gonna let you make your own mistakes.

Were you satisfied with the album sales of the first Triple C’s album? I’m the type of person that would never be satisfied, even if we sold 10 million records. Of course I wasn’t satisfied, because I felt like it was rushed. We put the album out in maybe seven weeks, so it felt like a rush job. But at the end of the day, I feel like the quality of the music on the album was great. I feel like the next album Color, Cut, & Clarity is gonna be way better be- cause we actually had a chance to sit down and put it together properly and it’s not rushed. This one is gonna be a more thor- ough process, and that’s what people are going to appreciate the most about it: the growth.

Triple C’s is you, Ross, Gunplay, and Young Breed. How do you make sure you stand out in a group along with other talented MCs, especially Rick Ross? The easiest way to stand out is to have other talented MCs around you. All you’ve gotta do is do the same thing that got you into the group; do you. If you say anything hot on a track with an artist of Rick Ross’s caliber, people are gonna take note and say, “Who is that?” So you did your job. It’s kinda like being under a microscope to see if you can hold your own next to a future legend like Rick Ross. Gunplay is on the come up and shout out to Young Breed. We’ve got four different styles and four different swags. come together - me being from - I bring a whole other element. As soon as I come on the song, they know I’m not from ‘round these parts.

How hard is it being in Triple C’s when you’re a New York dude? How do you fit in? It really wasn’t hard at all because we’re not one of those groups that was put together at the last minute. I’ve been down with these boys since I was 16. We always got bread together, so it was kinda easy. The hardest thing is the beat selection, ‘cause Ross knows how easy it is for me to write. IN ADDITION TO BEING 1/4 OF RICK ROSS’ GROUP TRIPLE C’S, THE LEAD Sometimes I think he just picks beats to challenge me. But at the ARTISTS FROM MAYBACH MUSIC GROUP, TORCH HAS GAINED CRITICAL end of the day, we always do our numbers. And that friendly camaraderie ACCLAIM FOR HIS SOLO SKILLS AS WELL. HERE, HE TELLS OZONE HIS in the music is just a friendly sport, so it’s a beautiful thing between all of FUTURE PLANS. us, seeing who’s gon’ come hard and how we gon’ come. And of course the Boss is the Boss, so we’re all just trying to hold our own. You’ve been with Rick Ross from the beginning. How has it been for you watching him from the start to the success he has now? What are you working on as a solo artist? It’s something like a dream. We’ve always envisioned this, that’s why I put I got that Crash Course [mixtape] out, hosted by DJ Khaled and DJ Kay Slay. my faith and trust in him from the get go, ‘cause we’ve always seen big For the first time in history, the biggest on the streets of the North and the things. And to see it happen, it’s indescribable. It just gives you more and biggest DJ on the streets of the South came together and collaborated to more hope. I feel like I’m just a song away. And to be right there with him, put me in a good position. I’ve got a couple more [mixtapes] on the way, from then to now, seeing him win a BET award, after all the years we’ve and I’ve got the UFO EP on the way. We’re just grinding. At the end of the been nominated and never made it to the stage, it’s great that we finally day, my solo effort is gon’ be more musical than anything else. My influ- crossed that goal. Next is MTV and the Grammys. It’s something like a ences are artists like Scarface and 2Pac and artists who just made music dream, man. Success is a journey and we’re just starting. without trying to go down a specific lane. You never knew what you were gon’ get when you pressed play, all you knew is that it was gon’ be genuine, Do you see similar success for yourself soon? real and something you can really relate to. Oh, of course. I’ve been granted that gift of hard work, so I won’t stop until I get to where I’m going. I’ve got a lot of writing credits under my belt, so Is there anything else you want to talk about? now it’s time to put the face with the skills. My new single “Bang Your City” I want y’all to look out for Specialyst Entertainment; that’s my company. You has been doing numbers, so I know it’s coming. know the boss gives us the freedom and leverage to do a whole bunch of big things, so I started my own company and we’re doing some really big What writing credits do you have? things this year. You can follow me on that Twitter, @torchccc and check my We got a lot of those, but that’s why they call it the “ghostwriter.” I love website out, TorchisNY.com for all the latest and greatest Triple C’s informa- those checks, so I’ma just keep that [quiet], you know what I mean? tion. //

OZONE MAG // 43 MASSPIKE MILES Words by Julia Beverly REINVENTION Photo by Derick G

44 // OZONE MAG fter a childhood stint in a “boy band,” Boston-bred artist Masspike Singing is a little more fun than cleaning the bathroom, but I get your anal- Miles reinvented himself as a business-savvy singer with a bit of Hip ogy. How did you link up with Rick Ross? AHop swag. Now boasting some powerful allies, like Rick Ross and DJ I met him when he came to [Boston]. But rather than just meeting him and be- Drama, Miles is prepared to take his art form to the next level. ing just another nigga, I felt like this was my opportunity to be an artist. I didn’t have a record done or nothing like that but I said, “, I need a feature. Do you think coming out of Boston is a challenge for an artist? How much does it cost?” We discussed the price, got my brown paper bag, and Yeah, it’s always a challenge coming out of Boston. I’ve been doing music for I had him do 16 bars. I didn’t have a concept or anything. A couple days later he damn near twenty years now. I was singing in a group called Perfect Gentle- finished the 16 bars, we split the 16 in two, and just blasted the record off, “Get men back in 1993. That was during the New Kids on the Block/New Edition It Together.” I wasn’t really sure how [the streets] were gonna respond to it. I was era; I was caught up in that. Coming out of Boston is definitely different than just in my zone on some street shit and I released it and it got a lot of love. coming out of Atlanta or New York. It’s hard; it’s difficult, I ain’t gonna lie. But now that I’m moving around and adapting to my environment, no matter what That was about two years ago, right? it is, they understand that the person is Miles as opposed to Masspike. They get Yeah, it sure was. Then Ross told me that he wanted to shoot a video. He didn’t to know who Miles is. need to tell a nigga like me [that] twice; I needed that [look]. So I put my money together, we shot the video, and he was impressed with the professionalism. Masspike is your alter ego? Since I’m a young dude and I’m ambitious and determined to win and willing Kind of. Miles is my government name, so people who know me call me Miles. to invest in myself, he saw that there was potential in the situation. We sat If you don’t know me, you can call me Masspike. (laughs) down after we shot the video and chopped it up for a few weeks. He told me I had a lot of potential and was like, “We’re bosses. Let’s come together.” I told So the boy-band situation back in ’93 didn’t work out? him I didn’t want my project to be rushed. I really want to sit back and develop I guess you could say we had mediocre success. By today’s standards selling my shit, because I haven’t been on stage in 15 years. I’m signed to Maybach 150,000 would be great, but back then it wasn’t great to the Warner Bros. staff. Music now, but it’s kinda like a joint venture. They expected [more] because the New Kids on the Block were worth a billion dollars in merchandising alone. I was only eleven then. I ain’t even gonna front, You just dropped a Gangsta Grillz mixtape with DJ Drama, right? I was dancing, singing, whatever it took for me to be a part of the group. I was Yeah, it’s called Super Fly. [Drama’s] brand is so hot in the industry that he’ll liter- the lead singer of Perfect Gentlemen so I had to do what I had to do. ally have thirty artists on his list [of mixtapes to do]. So he’ll have like Dream, dead prez, Gucci Mane, and T.I. waiting. My Gangsta Grillz is all original stuff. Did that discourage you from continuing in the music business? The big homie LA the Darkman wanted me to go out of the box and do some For a few years I was discouraged. I was still developing as a young man and freestyles, but I really wanted to be intimate with the people. trying to come up smoothly in the industry. Being a young dude in the streets from Roxbury, Massachusetts, I had to deal with a lot of different things. I was Why give away a mixtape with all-original music? Is it like an investment? a chubby light skinned dude singing in a [boy band] when I was 11 and 12 Of course I could put it out as an album, but who am I to put out an album years old, and it didn’t really pan out. My peers and people who I thought were right now? Let’s keep it real. You may know who Masspike Miles is, but Bethany friends [ultimately] made fun of the fact that [my group] didn’t do well. That in Idaho doesn’t know who I am, and that’s the person that’s buying the album. kinda deterred me from singing for a few years. One day I was on TV singing I’ve gotta show the people that I’m worthy of putting out an album. The name and then the next day I’m on the block, 13 years old, trying to sell weed. It was of my album is The Struggle, and it’s coming in 2010 or 2011. Right now, I’m just discouraging. I could still sing though. What made me get back into it was my gonna keep burning up the internet and burning up these streets. I’m doing homies in the hood who were really friends. We were really clicking; they were some production, but I like to deal with new [producers] as well. I’m working . My man used to have a microphone hanging from the lights and with some cats out of Australia and some cats out of Canada. I’m looking for the ceiling. He would have a microphone plugged in with the tape deck and some thirsty dudes that I can call at any time and they’re on deck. I ain’t with all the boom. We would just freestyle, but the fact that I could do it so well just the bourgeois shit. Producers can send beats to MasspikeMilesBeats@gmail. influenced them. I was rap/singing back then, kinda like what I’m doing now. com. I’m looking for writers too. I’m also working with J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, The I can do [rap] battles and ; I can do all that. Through them, I got into Incredibles, and Drumma Boy. the beat-making and songwriting aspect of the music. That’s how I made the transition back into music when I was about fifteen. Why did you call the mixtape Super Fly? Sometimes I have a hard time sleeping, so I do a lot of thinking in my sleep. I After your transition back into the music game on the songwriting and woke up one night and was watching the movie Super Fly. I felt like some of production side, what have you been working on? the things he went through were similar to what I’m going through. For all of I got into beat-making and I worked with this artist named Smoke Bulga out of my mixtapes, I like to base them off a movie. The last mixtape I did was called Boston. We ended up getting a deal with Sony/Epic. I produced his first single The Pursuit of Happyness, which happened to be a Will Smith movie. The next and was heavily involved with his project on the executive side of things. It mixtape I’m putting out is going to be called Power, which is based off of an old just influenced me creatively to want to move forward. I knew I was talented Ice-T album. I take all the fly light skinned niggas’ movies. (laughs) enough. I’m not the greatest singer or dancer. I’m not gonna sit around and serenade your girl; if you meet me you may never know that I can sing. I just Well, don’t forget Terrence Howard. Hustle & : The Mixtape. wanted to do music regardless if it was working as sa producer or an artist That’s coming soon. (laughs) or being in the background. I just wanted to be a part of the music because I loved it so much. You mentioned that Ross was impressed with your professionalism. What are some good and bad ways of handling business? So in working with Smoke Bulga, you got more of a feel for the business side Bad business is basically just people not keeping their word, or club talk. “Club of the industry? talk” is like, “Hey, what’s up my nigga, we gonna get up, we gonna do this Of course. I’m heavily involved with my business. I’m fully financing my own record, I’m gonna holla at you tomorrow,” and then you never hear from them. videos. Because I’m a boss, I’m not waiting for you to hold my hand to cross I’m not with the club talk. I don’t do that. When you ask me to do a feature, it’s the street or waiting for you to give me some money to put gas in my car. I’m too easy. You know how to get at me and I’m willing to work with anybody the dude that’s coming with the full package because I know what it is. I know who’s willing to work. But you have to deal with a lot of fuck niggas that are what it feels like to have an artist that’s always – I won’t say “needy,” but – always full of talk. This game is full of talk and backstabbers. But I’m not a jaded artist depending on you for certain things. I know what it feels like to distribute and I don’t have a problem being a raunchy nigga when a nigga treats me money in certain places and never see it come back. Being an artist gave me raunchy. At the end of the day I just keep it straightforward. But on the good an understanding of how I need to approach people and conduct myself as a side, there’s a lot of connections you can acquire in this business. The people businessman. you can be around, the caviar, traveling the world, and being able to indulge in different cultures. I did this to see the world. I do it for the love, I don’t do it for How did the situation with Smoke Bulga pan out? the money. I ain’t made a fucking dollar off this music shit yet but I still ride in We got caught between the merger with Sony and Epic and our A&R got fired. my Benz, I still smoke the best weed, and I’ve still got the condominium with It was just the typical story of an artist trying to blow up and the [major deal] the marble countertops. didn’t work out properly so we just stayed on the grind releasing Mixtapes. I felt like I was missing something personally, though. I wanted to be contrib- Is there anything else you’d like to add? uting creatively, as an artist. There were certain things I wanted to show the Hit me on Twitter, @MasspikeMiles. Hit me on Facebook, go on iTunes and people that maybe [my artist] didn’t have the vision for. I feel like, if I want the download all my music. You can download the Gangsta Grillz off my Myspace bathroom clean, the only person that’s gonna clean the bathroom is me. So or DatPiff.com. Keep God first and stay focused and determined.// that’s what I needed to do.

OZONE MAG // 45 PAUL WALL Words by Julia Beverly IN MY BLOOD Photo by SLFEMP

nce a loud proponent of swangaz, syrup, and all things Hous- [other artists] would stop by the studio to mess with Travis. , for ton, Paul Wall is now a proud family man building a new life in example. He just happened to be in the studio doing something with OLos Angeles with his wife and two kids. Although he reunited Travis and he ended up doing a verse for me too. with former partner at the urging of Pimp C, E-40, and , here Paul has some strong words for former Your weight has ballooned the last few years, up and down. They say ally . He also answers a no-win question about Trae vs. when you get married you get fat. (laughs) Were you eating good? Houston radio station The Box, and speaks frankly about the way his I definitely was eating good. When you get married you tend to get father’s heroin addiction influenced his own struggle with addiction. more comfortable and settle down, and that definitely was the case with me. That’s something you want to handle on your own because when You’re living in L.A. now, which is interesting because people affiliate you’re married, you want to keep it interesting. You get fat and lazy and Paul Wall so closely with the Houston sound and Houston culture. look in the mirror and think, “How can I be attractive to my wife when I’m What made you decide to make the switch? looking like this?” I don’t think [marriage] was really the reason I got big, I wanted to get a different feel for this album. We’ve always had good though. I got big from drinking so much syrup and having bad eating success going to different studios and traveling. We did “I’m Throwed” habits. Vicodin, Xanax, and stuff like that really messed up my metabo- in Atlanta with Jermaine Dupri, and we recorded a lot of the last few lism. Syrup slows your metabolism down too and it kinda makes you albums in Austin. It just seems like we get a good feel when we travel. lazy. You’re less active, so I think that definitely plays a major role. Not When I’m away from home, it’s easier to focus. When I’m at home I get to blame anything [in particular] because it’s definitely my fault. It’s not lazy. So I’m recording my album in L.A. but I’ll be back in Houston when anybody else’s fault; I don’t blame anybody. It’s something I have to take I’m finished. Musically, the album is definitely a lot different. responsibility for. My drug habits are definitely my fault. is doing most of the production. Are you clean and sober now or are you still drinking syrup? With Travis Barker producing, does it have more of a rock & roll sound? That’s the other thing: syrup looks like a cool drug. People don’t look at Nah. That’s what a lot of people think, just because Travis Barker is our it as an actual “drug.” It’s still a drug. I’ve stopped drinking syrup. It’s not generation’s most famous drummer – and best drummer, in my opinion. something I did just [to lose] weight, but for my family. My dad was ad- Even though most people associate him with rock & roll, his Hip Hop dicted to heroin so that’s something I was always conscious of – I don’t production is wild. It’s incredible. Being in the studio working with him want to turn into him. I want to be here for my family and live a long life just motivates me. I also got a lot of features on my album just because with them. As I saw myself turning into my dad, being addicted to a drug

46 // OZONE MAG is kinda scary. It really made me just want to get better and be a better a statistic that 80% of the troops that are in the Middle East either came father to my kids. from Texas or were stationed in Texas at one point. That’s a hell of a statistic and that’s a large chunk of the military population over there. They’ve Syrup was apparently a factor in Pimp C’s passing. Did that influence you always supported me and I just wanted to give back in some . to stop also? Not at all, honestly. I’ve always been a big defender of syrup. Even when When did you decide to get serious about losing weight? [Pimp C] passed, when Screw passed, when Moe passed, I kinda made Honestly, when we were in Afghanistan and [reps for VH1’s] Celebrity Fit excuses. I said it was other things that killed them, just their whole lifestyle. Club were contacting you asking you to ask me about coming on the show. That’s part of being a drug addict. You make excuses and try to validate That was a hell of a wake-up call. [Being fat] isn’t a secret. You can look in what you’re doing. But at the same time, in the back of my mind I was the mirror and try to hide it and cover it up, and it may work here or there, always thinking, “What if I go to sleep right now and don’t wake up?” That’s but there ain’t no shirt or hat you can put on or haircut you can get to hide a scary thought. I don’t think the syrup played a part [in their deaths] 100%, the fact that you’re morbidly obese. That’s what the doctor said: I was “mor- it was just an ingredient for it. But like I said, being a drug addict who’s bidly obese.” I decided not to do [Celebrity Fit Club] but it was still a wake-up addicted to syrup and pills, you try to make excuses to validate why you’re call to have people calling you saying, “Hey, you’re really, really fat.” doing what you’re doing. What kind of weight-loss surgery did you get? At what point did you admit to yourself that you were addicted? The surgery I got is called gastric sleeve. There’s three kinds: gastric bypass, When my kids would wake me up in the morning and I wouldn’t want to lap band, and the gastric sleeve. Gastric bypass is the one where you lose get out of bed. It was just the way they looked at me, and the way my wife the most weight the quickest; it’s for people who are 400-500 pounds and would look at me. She was constantly trying to get me to stop. I wouldn’t have health problems that they need to fix right away. Since [the weight have any energy at times. The syrup makes you real irritable. We would be loss] happens so fast it leaves you with a lot of saggy skin. The lap band, fighting and arguing over little stuff; little things would piss me off. which is very popular, is when they put a band around your stomach and it makes you feel like you’re full, so you don’t eat. But there’s ways to cheat Did you just quit cold turkey? with it, and with the lap band, you can always get it removed to go back to Nah. Over the years I would stop, then start back up again, then stop. It normal. [My weight] has been up and down my whole life, so I wanted to was something I always struggled with over the years. The last time when do something to permanently fix the problem. Since going back and forth I stopped, I just decided that it was serious, and that in order for me to be on the drugs for years and taking diet pills, my metabolism was really gone. here for my family and be here for my kids I really need to stop. I can’t be a So I decided to go with the gastric sleeve, because it’s a little more serious good father to my kids and be addicted to a drug, regardless of what drug than the lap band. They also cut out the hormones that make you hungry. it is. Growing up, I went to all the drug programs for the families of drug So I actually don’t even get hungry anymore. The doctor talked me out of addicts. So I was always aware of the problem. Since I was related to a drug doing the lap band; he told me it’s the most popular, but it’s not as effec- addict, I found myself turning into what I’d hated all my life. That’s exactly tive. With the lap band, you lose about 50% of your excess weight. I was what I was afraid of. 120 pounds overweight. I weighed 320 pounds, and I’m six feet tall. So with the lap band I still would’ve been morbidly obese. With the gastric sleeve, Was your father addicted to heroin before you were born, or was it you typically lose 80% of your excess fat. I lost 100 pounds with it, so that’s something that happened over time? putting me in a more healthy weight class. Probably before I was born. He abandoned me, my sister, and my mom before I was even in kindergarten. Having lost 100 pounds, do you see a noticeable difference in your life? Yeah, hands down. I feel like I got my life back. When you’re so big like that, Is he still alive? it’s embarrassing. I didn’t want to go out and be seen. I felt uncomfort- I have no idea. My mom remarried and my stepdad adopted me and my able because I’m not used to being that big. People would see me and say sister. He took us in and showed us what it was to be a man and how to something about it, because it was no secret. I was morbidly obese, 120 take care of your family. My biological father is just a sperm donor, but my pounds overweight. It was just embarrassing. I’d be on stage feeling like I stepdad is my father. was about to collapse. I’d get dizzy spells. I’d be on the airplane and have to ask for seatbelt extensions. Once you go up in the air, it’s really hard What sticks out in your mind most from the drug treatment programs to breath. I was just thinking, “What if I have a heart attack?” I want to be you attended as a child? here for my kids. I don’t want to have a heart attack. My son is four and my I just didn’t understand what was going on. You kinda blame yourself. I daughter is two and a half. The doctor told me that when you’re 50 pounds couldn’t understand why he loved [heroin] more than he loved me. Even overweight, it takes 15 years off your life. So it literally saved my life. after my mom remarried, I still [attended] those programs because I was dealing with that sense of abandonment. As I drug addict I can kind of un- Have you been working out too? derstand it, but I can’t rationalize how I could love [a drug] more than I love Nah. I’ve probably worked out twice since I had [the surgery] and that was my kids. I love my wife and kids more than anything in the world, but drugs just a light workout. are real powerful. They change the way you think. They change your mind and your whole thought process, so when you do things it’s not really you It seems like your overall lifestyle has changed a whole lot since you first doing them it’s the drugs doing them. Thank God that I was able to have came out. Now that you’re a family man and no longer sipping syrup, has the support and able to overcome it. But a lot of people can’t overcome it. that affected the content of your music and the topics you rap about? I don’t think it’s affected it that much. I feel more motivated now. I guess That’s deep. On another note, we ran a story in OZONE about your USO that’s for the fans to decide, but I always try to keep the music relevant to trip to Afghanistan to perform for the troops along with DJ Smallz. I who I am. But at the same time, it’s music, so I try to keep it entertaining. I shared my perspective on the trip, but what about you? What did you try not to be a big farce. I don’t want to stray too far out of my lane because take away from the whole experience? I make music specifically for my fans. I’m getting ready to go back [to the Middle East] with Big Boy from [Power 106’s] Big Boy’s neighborhood. After we came back from Afghanistan, I was Your album Heart of the Champion is out now. Is it still Swishahouse? just thinking how crazy it was that we were over there when all those peo- Yeah, Swishahouse and Warner Bros. It came out July 13th, which is a good ple were dying. It was one of the deadliest months [during the Afghanistan day for Houston – 7/13 – [Houston’s area code] 713. war]. I think the craziest thing was just to think that some of the soldiers who died might have come to our concert and saw us perform. That kind of You were affiliated with Mike Jones through Swishahouse. Are y’all still touches your heart to think, damn, I was probably the last concert they saw on good terms? People are kind of wondering what happened to him. before they were killed. Me personally, I’d say he dug his own grave. He lied to a lot of people, he turned his back on a lot of people, and he burned a lot of bridges. I don’t For a lot of artists, “Hey, do you want to go to the desert in a war zone in want to kick a dog while he’s down and I don’t wanna just talk shit about the middle of the summer to perform for free?” is not appealing. What him, but I think a lot of people were happy when [Trae] punched him and was your motivation? knocked him out. But at the same time, a lot of people were mad at Trae I felt an obligation to do it. It’s my duty and responsibility. I’m not in the too. It’s not like Mike Jones is the gangsta of the year, so in my opinion, military but whether you support the war or not, it’s about supporting the you don’t really get points for beating up Mike Jones. Some people say it troops. People always say it, but what are you actually doing to support the was a publicity stunt on Trae’s part, but I disagree with that totally because troops? They’ve always supported me. I’ve had family and friends in the I know Trae and he doesn’t really do publicity stunts like that. If Trae feels military. Also, being from Texas, I wanted to show love back because I heard disrespected, he’s going to address it. I think that’s what happened. If

OZONE MAG // 47 somebody disrespects you, [punching them] is not always the answer, but everybody is conscious of it, but with The Box I try to support them by it’s definitely sometimes the answer. So I don’t feel like Trae was wrong in showing up to their events. The funny thing is the cyber thugs and Twitter any form or fashion. Trae doesn’t do publicity stunts. But like I said, Mike gangsters. I’ve gotten so many threats from people [on Twitter], but I know Jones burned his bridge with a lot of people, so he probably had a knock they’re just cyber thugs with meaningless words. out coming from somewhere at some time anyway. I’m positive of that. What kind of threats? “If you don’t boycott The Box, we’ll kill you”? Where is Mike Jones? Yeah. Prank calling. They’re not actual threats; it’s just words being put to- I don’t know. Ever since he left Swishahouse I haven’t really kept track of gether on the keyboard. If anybody in the world wanted to kill me, I’m not him. I really didn’t know him too well before he came to Swishahouse. hard to find. I’ve never portrayed myself as the world’s number one gangsta because I’m not. But I’m a man, I’m not a punk either. I don’t roll deep. If I think because of the “Still Tippin’” record, people outside of Houston anybody ever wanted to hurt me I’m not hard to get at. It would be stupid always had the perception that you, Mike Jones, and Slim Thug, were to beat somebody up because you’re not saying, “Fuck the radio station.” sort of a unit. Me saying that wouldn’t help anything anyway. Radio stations are funded I would’ve liked it to be like that, but Mike Jones didn’t want that. He kinda by advertisers. If you go after their number one advertiser, that’s how wanted it to all be about him. If that’s how you want it, I’m not gonna be you can make noise at the radio station. I need The Box. The Box doesn’t the one to beg you to stay around, especially since all my major success need me. It’s the same thing with The Beat in Dallas. If I didn’t have them, I came not too long after the break up with me and Chamillionaire. I was in wouldn’t have a career. People on Twitter want me to tell the radio station, a mindframe where it was like, “If you don’t want to be here, I’m not gonna “Don’t play me, play Trae.” Nah, I’m not going to say that about any artist. I force you.” If you don’t want to be on the Swishahouse team together, I’m want you to play my song. Yeah, I would like you to play my friends’ songs, not gonna force you. I’ve gotta do me and focus on what’s best for me. I but my priority is my song. I’ve got an album out and I’ve got kids to feed. would’ve loved for us to be a unit but he didn’t want that, so that was his I’m sure after this [interview] I’m going to get a thousand more meaning- choice. When he left Swishahouse, he was dropping salt on everybody from less Twitter threats from cyberthugs. The threats come from people who Swishahouse and not giving us any credit at all. He was talking down on a aren’t even in Houston. Trae is my friend beyond all this; he’s always going lot of us and he would never directly say our names, but he was still hating. to be my friend. I’m going to support him because he’s always had my There were times when I felt disrespected and I would call him out on it, back. I don’t care what the gangsta geeks on Twitter say. Their messages and he’d be like, “Nah, I wasn’t talking about you. I would never do that.” I’m get deleted and I move on. It’s just a topic of conversation, like, “Guess who sure there’s a psychological term for this problem that Mike Jones has. He threatened me today? Some 15-year-old cyberthug.” Real gangstas don’t has a problem. His perception of reality ain’t the real perception of reality. make threats on Twitter. They’re not on Twitter at all. (laughs)

I think the psychological term for people with a false perception of real- I know the grill phase kind of came and went, but is business still boom- ity is “delusional.” (laughs) ing at TV Jewelry for you and your partner TV Johnny? In his mind Mike Jones feels like he hasn’t done anything wrong to me, Grills aren’t a fad or a national trend like it used to be, but the people who Trae, or Chamillionaire. He feels like everyone else is trippin’ and he’s the always wore grills are still wearing grills – the dope boys, the hustlers, victim. But that ain’t how it happened. We always say there’s three sides the ballers. We still sell a lot of them. In general, though, people are still to every story: your side, the other person’s side, and the truth. But in his coming in and spending crazy amounts of money. We do custom jewelry, mind, he’s the victim and he never did anything wrong to anybody. When so we make everything from scratch: chains, charms, rings, bracelets, and somebody thinks that way, there’s no point in arguing with them. With that watches. We do a lot of jewelry other than just grills. The jewelry business being said, I kinda washed my hands of him. I’m not worried about Mike in general is thriving. Johnny has the workshop to make jewelry for other Jones. I don’t wish no bad on him and I don’t hate him, but I’ve got to move jewelry shops, so a lot of the other jewelry stores sell jewelry that we actu- in my own direction. There’s no sense in arguing with him. They say when ally made. That’s the crazy part. two people argue, from a distance you can’t tell who the fool is. And you’ve also got the clothing line , right? It seems like Speaking of Trae, did you keep up with his lawsuit against [Houston you did a good job of diversifying with the clothing line and the jewelry. radio station] KBXX The Box? Do you think they abused their power by Are you planning on expanding into other businesses? allegedly “banning” him from the airwaves? I’m always looking, but to me, it has to be something you believe in and (long pause) No matter what I say here, somebody’s gonna get mad. And are passionate about. I thought about opening a car lot just because I love if I say “no comment,” everybody’s gonna get mad. (laughs) I don’t want to cars so much, but these days I don’t know if it would be wise because of the take sides, but there’s no correct answer here. If I was in The Box’s shoes, economy. When you find something you believe in, it’s easier to promote. I would’ve done the same thing they’ve done. If I was in Trae’s shoes, I I’m passionate about the jewelry and the clothes. I’m pretty sure I’ll get into would’ve done the same thing he’s done. I don’t know the whole truth of something else soon, because I was always taught to have more than one the situation, just rumors. But Trae is the kind of artist who really doesn’t hustle. Hustling is like the seasons. Sometimes it’s hot, sometimes it’s cold. need the radio station. He’s a street artist and he’s got a street following, so You have to change your wardrobe for every season. Sometimes the rap him being banned from any radio station isn’t going to stop his show. Me, I music might be booming, sometimes it might be clothing, sometimes it need the radio station. If I got banned from the radio station that might be might be grills. As long as I’ve got a lot of different hustles going on, as long the end of my career. But Trae, honestly, I feel like he doesn’t need any radio as I keep a good hustle I’ll stay busy, stay profitable, and stay grinding. play because he has a strong street following. And the radio station doesn’t need any artist. They don’t need us at all. The artists need the radio station. How did you and Chamillionaire squash your beef and decide to go back They’re a big conglomerate and my money ain’t long enough to fight with on tour together? any radio station. Even the small mom and pop radio stations have more Little by little the wounds healed. We matured a lot. We’re both pretty bread than I’ve got. Maybe Universal Records or Warner Bros could go up stubborn and seven years ago we both were way more stubborn than we against [Radio One] in a courtroom, but lil ol’ me, man, my bread ain’t long are now. With maturity we’ve grown in our adulthood. Killer Mike, E-40, enough to be having lawsuits that go on for eight years. The whole situa- and Pimp C were all real big supporters of us [as a team] and they kept tion is real fucked up for a lot of artists in Houston, because a lot of artists, telling us, “Y’all need to stop trippin’ and get back together.” Whether it’s for including myself, have a real good relationship with The Box. We have good the friendship – we were childhood friends, like brothers – or for the fans, relationships with the DJs, the jocks, the programmers, and the people because the music we made together was phenomenal, those were good behind the scenes. But at the same time I have a real good relationship and reasons why people wanted us to get back together. We both just grew friendship with Trae. So it’s a real fucked up position for a lot of the artists and came to realize that we were both wrong in some areas and we both to be in, and also for the mixers and the jocks because those people have were right in some areas. It wasn’t one colossal event that made us grow good relationships with Trae too. They’re in a position where they’re forced apart and it wasn’t one colossal event that made us come back together. to take a side. I always try to be politically correct and not choose sides, but We’d just gotten tired of each other and grown apart and finally we’d had it’s hard to do that. enough and went our separate ways. For me, when Pimp C [referenced us] in “Knockin’ Doors Down,” that was a real wake-up call. Everybody was like, So you’re trying to stay neutral. “Did you hear Pimp C say on that song that y’all need to get back together, I don’t know. There really is no neutral. Since Trae is my homeboy, I’m trying mane?” Especially when Pimp C passed, I knew he would love to see us get to support him in other ways. I’m hooking him up with some producers I back together. When [Chamillionaire and I] do our shows now, I know Pimp know and shouting him out whenever I do interviews. If a DJ is asking for would love to see this. When we performed in Houston at House of Blues, music I say, “Here’s my boy Trae.” I’m trying to help him move past it. So I’m Pimp C’s mama was there, and his son too. That would’ve been real cool trying to support him in other ways aside from saying, “I’m on Trae’s side.” for him to see us together on stage, since he played a big part in us getting I’m not on Trae’s side; I’m not on either side. I can’t really ignore it because back together. //

48 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 49 When OZONE featured Big K.R.I.T. in its Patiently Waiting section in people to know that no matter where you’re from, it’s all about the qual- 2006, only a few people had heard of the then 19-year old rapper/pro- ity of music you’re putting out and if you believe in yourself. Mississippi ducer. He was from the small town of Meridian, Mississippi, so you al- is a humbling place. When you look at BET and MTV, it’s surreal to think most had to either be from there or have worked with him to be aware you’ll ever be there. Being in my hometown and speaking for them, it’s a of his music. Sensing that it would be an uphill battle to get noticed in blessing because we know it’s a long road to get here. his hometown, K.R.I.T. trekked to Atlanta, where he shopped beats and handed out mixtapes from his See Me On Top series, which featured Why go that route? assistance from DJ Folk, DJ Wally Sparks and DJ Infamous. Because my state never had a sound of its own, like, “Oh, that’s some Mis- sissippi shit.” People don’t really lend an ear to Mississippi music because While his buzz started to catch fire in the Southeast, a few obstacles they may not understand the slang and what we go through down set him off track professionally, personally and creatively. Almost there. At the end of the day, it’s not so much of a coastal thing, it’s about getting swallowed up in Atlanta’s heavy dance and club scene, K.R.I.T. putting out quality music period. That’s why I work with people from soon found himself at a crossroads. One that he actually hinted at everywhere because we all want to regenerate that golden era of Hip meeting in his 2006 interview. Hop, where it wasn’t so factory-based and more organic. The production really stands out, especially at a time when “Southern” “I try to be positive and have uplifting music, but sometimes you gotta Hip Hop nowadays sounds more synth-heavy than soulful. bring it back down to reality,” he said. No doubt. When you think of Mississippi you think of B.B. King, K.R.I.T. sensed that he was due for a reality check and moved back Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf. to Mississippi in 2008. After getting back in touch with his family I really wanted organic beats like . It wasn’t sampled to and roots, he began recording Krit Wuz Here, a sample-laden, soul- the point where you could tell what they was sampling. But if they did, searching opus that has surprisingly become one of the most heralded they chopped it up to where you couldn’t tell, it made for good composi- releases of 2010. Even though he gave the project away for free over tion. I just want to take it back to when the music sounded timeless. That the internet, he received a nice kickback in the form of a deal with Def why I have the song “The Return 4eva,” bringing back music where peo- Jam records. ple thought about what they rapped about and the sample they chose to use, the way they layered them. All of that is extremely important. Look OZONE caught up with K.R.I.T. to talk about his journey and the project at the artists that did that like Biggie, 2Pac, , Goodie Mob, Mobb he feels took him five years to make. Deep, DMX. You still listen to these artists. I want to be timeless like them, it can be 2040 and you’re still listening to it. A lot of people are labeling you as a “new” artist, which isn’t quite accurate. You’ve been at this for about five years now. Which do you spend more time on, rapping or production? Yeah. In 2005 the first DJ that ever put me on a mixtape was DJ Folk on Both of them are long processes. I spend as much time possible trying From The Trap to the Stroll; the song was called “They Gon’ Hate.” Then he to perfect the beat. At the same time I’m thinking of a concept for the put me on his Deep In the Game series. He wound up hosting my mixtape song and I usually get that vibe from the beat. Whether it’s some playa See Me On Top part 2. I also did King of the Queen with DJ Wally Sparks and shit, spiritual, some overconfident lyrical shit, or about grinding. I know See Me On Top part 3 with DJ Infamous. So DJs have been showing me exactly what I want to rap about. I name the track based off the vibe. love from the start. Around that time I was still making a name for myself With the beat I try to record over a two track first then go back and break as both a rapper and producer. I did “Live and Let Die” for Big Floaty and it down for mixing. But I’m careful with that because when you get into worked with Max Minelli. It was all about working with indie artists. breaking the beat down it can lose some of the energy.

What happened between See Me On Top parts 2 and 3 and then after Being that you are both a producer and rapper, you’ve been drawing that? It seemed like you got away from the soulful music you were a lot of Pimp C comparisons, on both ends of the spectrum. Some say producing , then disappeared. you sound a little too much like him, others love how he’s obviously I was trying to figure out the best way to come out and be myself and influenced you. building a brand. It got to a point where I was sacrificing my creative I was influenced by UGK. They were in a neighboring state. UGK, Lil Keke, mindframe to try and get a buzz or be on the radio. So I went back to Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Chamillionare, Suave House, 8Ball & MJG, Tela, Out- Mississippi to find my roots and what I wanted to put out to the world. I kast, Goodie Mob, Cool Breeze, and Three Six Mafia were my influences. I feel like Krit Wuz Here was five years in the making. It’s showing the world was influenced by all of this music so it only makes sense that my sound that I ain’t new to this, but letting the mainstream get introduced to me. would be derived from that. Mississippi is surrounded by these states and we loved this music and we could relate. It’s a lifestyle aspect. It was The song that seemed to reel everybody in was “Hometown Hero.” always exciting to hear them rap about how we get down and then do When I did that track, I was riding with my potna Mike Hartnett of Rehab. big things like win Grammys and stuff. When people tell me that, I feel He put me up on Adele’s “Hometown Glory.” Five months later I bought like I’m representing where I’m from. All of them are legends and all I can her music, sampled it, made a song, and just started blasting it. It started do is try to influence people the same way they did and hope to make bubbling. In January, Creative Control did the video. I think the footage the same impact they did. helped the song get out. Do you think you’re filling a void among the new artists? Many of Is there a story behind that beat? Two or three different artists you are reminding people of artists that they grew up on. Like say, hopped on it too. Did the beat get leaked or passed around? how Nipsey Hussle reminds people of Snoop Dogg. No, the song is just popular. Adele was Grammy nominated. The album Yes, it’s a new generation, and all these artists are young. So at the end is amazing. When I sampled it I was unaware of how many other people of the day we are all students of this music and Hip Hop so we’re about were sampling it too. keeping the tradition alive. I’m excited to be in a position for people to say I represent the South. I represent Hip Hop, quality music. How long did you work on Krit Wuz Here? It took a year and a half, two years to make. But I say five years because I How did the Def Jam deal come about? want people to see my growth, see me getting comfortable in my skin, That was five years in the working. Krit Wuz Here came out May 4th. Sha with my voice and my content and who I am. Cinematic Music Group and Money contacted us, said he fucked with the music, so let’s do some- Johnny Shipes contacted me and we started working at the end of 2009 thing. Def Jam is legendary. It was five years in the making as far as and getting with Creative Control. finding myself. It just all worked. Its God given. It was great timing, it’s a blessing, I’m amazed and overwhelmed and excited for everyone from You were living and working in Atlanta for a minute. A lot of artists my state and everybody who is around me. At the end of the day, I want are dying to move here. Why did you opt to leave and go back home? to make music for everybody. I don’t want it to be a coastal thing, I want Being home is always a humbling experience. You meet people you it to be for Hip Hop fans period. I’m trying to make real life music for ev- see every day, people you went to school with. You’re on TV but these erybody, regardless of what you listen to on the daily or in the club. I plan people know you for who you are. I had my family supporting me. It on making that kind of music for the rest of my career. // was extremely important that I showcase me as an individual. The song “Something” was recorded in my grandmother’s bathroom. I wanted Words by Maurice G. Garland

50 // OZONE MAG BIG K.R.I.T. FIVE YEARS OF

OZONE MAG // 51 PILL HIP HOP’S NEW DRUG

52 // OZONE MAG After three mixtapes and praise from The passion and realness in my music made people gravitate towards me. I was doing something fresh, real and raw, and that hadn’t been critics, Pill has gone from being done in a while. In Atlanta, for the last couple years we haven’t seen that, homeless to hardly being at home. it’s been the lollipop music and the swag music. That’s good music for what it is, but I wanted to make my music for the struggle. I think my Last year, Pill was living a life not too far from the one depicted in his shows have a lot to do with it too. People say I kill the stage with my breakthrough video “Trap Goin’ Ham.” While viewers were either en- energy. People say they can hear the realness in my voice. tertained or embarrassed by the video’s images, Pill was still embed- ded in them when the cameras stopped rolling. Matter of fact, during Judging from the places you’ve performed and the people that the time he was recording his debut mixtape 4180: The Prescription, he seem to latch onto your music, you appeal to almost everybody. As was still searching for a cure for the ills in his own life. an artist, does that pressure to try and start making music that ap- peals to everybody bother you? “I was sleeping in the trap still,” admits the rapper born Tyrone Rivers. It’s fuel to the fire. It’s no pressure with me. Pressure makes a diamond “Me and my girl had broke up so I was basically homeless, but I was around this way. If I got everybody from all angles enjoying my music, I still going to the studio. I told [my manager] D that I was getting a should just keep doing the same thing I’ve been doing. Why switch it up deal this year. He was like, “I don’t know, maybe if you work hard for now? I always say, it’s like when the Falcons went to the Super Bowl, they two years.” But I was like, “Nah, I’m going hard.” played great all year, kicked ass. They had one of the best records, then went to the Super Bowl and switched up the game plan and got beat. After releasing more eye-catching videos and a strong follow-up mix- Rapping the way I rap, doing the videos I do, it motivates me to remain tape 4075: The Refill, Pill found himself with a deal within six months consistent. The people can enjoy that. They can enjoy the guy that was of releasing his first collection of recorded music. on the corner drinking a beer, selling a gram, trying to get money for a pair of shoes and something to eat. They can enjoy the guy that was “It was very surprising,” he says, pausing as if he just realized it again. walking around homeless, in and out of jail. A guy that’s came up from “I had to show people what I’m capable of, my lyrical ability, my dex- nothing, a guy that was house to house since he was seven and came terity and my willingness to be different with tracks. I wanted to open home and saw his mother dead. eyes and ears and in the next six months, everybody is like, “Pill!” I’m like damn. So I’m thankful to everyone who showed support. Without Well, I guess it’s wrong to say you please everybody. Most of your them I wouldn’t be here that quick.” videos seem to be very polarizing. Some people love them, others loathe them. On the heels of dropping his latest mixtape, a Gangsta Grillz with DJ I let my haters be my motivators. The people that misunderstand or mis- Drama titled 1140: The Overdose (the numbers in the titles each repre- interpret what I’m doing, I don’t let it bother me. I see it, but I really pay it sent an old address), Pill is riding high and becoming one of Hip Hop’s no mind. There’s no glorification in my music. If I’m rapping about it, I’ma rising stars. OZONE caught up with him to talk about his journey over show it to you. I’ma show you how messed up it is out here. I want to see the last year and the long road ahead of him. you the impoverished side. You never seen me with a Lamborghini and Bentley behind me. I’m not the flexing type. I’m showing you the real, so A lot of people are hearing of you for the first time, or just now if you don’t like it, beware. Hopefully you’ll like the next video I do. deciding to listen to you after doing a Gangsta Grillz mixtape. How does it feel to get that stamp? We’ve seen instances where your music gets lumped into the “trap It’s refreshing. They’re used to hearing [DJ Drama] work with the really rap” category. Do you fear having your music labeled as it gets out huge acts, so for me to do a tape with him is like a dream come true. more? When you’re on the mixtape circuit, doing a Gangsta Grillz is like, the I don’t fear it. I’m concerned, but it only drives me to separate myself goal, because he’s probably the hottest guy in the mixtape game -- not from that. When you are grouped or put in a box, it limits you. So I try to to shun anyone else, though, because I’ve done tapes with DJ Skee and go opposite of that. Keep in mind I’m here to share my testimony with Burn One, and the Empire. There’s millions of DJs, but Drama culminates the world. People can say, “He’s like Jeezy, T.I. or Gucci,” but I’m me. If the it all when it comes to mixapes. A lot of people are starting to holler at people have watched my ascension, I’ve ascended to where I am faster me or recognize me at the grocery store. It’s a breath of fresh air for the than anyone else ever. My first solo project ever, video ever, I had all the streets because he has his fans and I have mine. labels after me. So you can’t put me in a group. I had a video on MTV without a deal. Nobody did that. I was on the cover of XXL without a Speaking of being recognized, it’s hard to find a lot of rappers just deal, nobody did that. With no cosign. being out with the people. You seem to still be out there, even when you aren’t “working.” Do you think that’s a challenge for you, You’ve cemented yourself as your own entity over the last year or because people want to view their favorite rapper as a “star”? so. But you did get introduced to a lot of people through Killer Mike It feels good to be able to just be out. I want people to say I’m a good and Grind Time though. Is everything still good over there? person. I don’t want them to say I’m an asshole. I roll places solo some- It’s still all love with us. We all still go to each other’s shows. I still go to SL times. People bump into me and say, “What you doing here?” I’m ready Jones’ gigs, and him and Killer were just at my last release party. Grind for the stardom mentally and physically, though. I know what I’m in for. Time isn’t a rap group. It’s a brotherhood; a gang. When I started the journey I knew I wouldn’t be able to go certain places anymore. So when you ask for that, you know it comes with that. Noth- You’ve been around the rap game for years, but didn’t officially ing is easy. jump in it until recently. What kept you from wanting to go all in? My family had been telling me for years that I needed to get out on my Getting back to the Gangsta Grillz mixtape, does it feel validating? own. They said I’m fi’e and that I need to do my thing. For so many years You’re known in the streets for just being you, but as far as your I shunned them because I was young and naïve and messing with Killer music, you’ve had more of a web and blog buzz. trying to be loyal. Then finally I woke up and smelled the coffee. I was It’s very validating. Drama brings a large street crowd. It warrants my like dang, they were right all this time. There was times when I didn’t hard work in a way. The only place you can go is up after a Gangsta Grillz. believe I could. What stopped me from believing was what was going That is, if you are actually a good rapper with a buzz, not just a trap rap- on at the present time. I was in the trap, I was in jail, I wasn’t in anybody’s per with some to throw Drama. We’ve seen those, but being that college, I didn’t have a job. I was like, “Who wants to hear about this Drama attracts that street crowd and I’m from the streets, it just blends shit?” But I finally realized that this is a testimony so maybe I should do it. right in, so that gives it the stamp. It’s THE validation. Let me take a shot at it.

You were also named one of XXL’s Freshman 10. Your debut album The Medicine is around the corner. What should That was surreal. But it was fuel to the fire. You see yourself on the cover people expect to hear from that and from you in the future? as a XXL Freshman, but after that you’re like, “Can I get a cover with just They can expect me to expose my soul and give it to them in my me on it one day?” If I work hard I’m sure I can do that. Plus I was one of rarest form. They can expect dope beats and dope rhymes, that’s my the few on the cover that didn’t have a deal at the time. It makes you motto. I just want to give ya’ll something to ride out to. I want to be the work harder and appreciate them for recognizing my talent. soundtrack to your lives. //

What do you think you were doing to get a look like that? Words & Photo by Maurice G. Garland

OZONE MAG // 53 YELAWOLF SICKER THAN YOUR AVERAGE

54 // OZONE MAG Not to boast and brag or anything, but OZONE was probably the first Eminem, but what they’ve done with [Lady] Gaga, what they did with Dr. major Hip Hop publication to interview YELAWOLF back when he Dre when he was coming in with that super controversial shit that he was joined our Patiently Waiting ranks in October of 2007. Admittedly, kicking with N.W.A. Everything that went down with Interscope has been over the years, plenty of artists with Patiently Waiting cosigns are left field. So I think more or less it made sense because it’s new to them; it still, in fact, patiently waiting. But in the case of this Gadsden, Ala- was something they’ve never heard before. bama MC, when his Trunk Muzik mixtape spread through the internet like oil in the gulf, it led him to a deal with Interscope (and a collec- Are you tired of the Eminem comparisons yet? tive “I told you so” came from the OZONE headquarters). I’m a huge Eminem fan, so I’m definitely honored. If I could have half the success that dude has had, who wouldn’t want that? The comparisons Since it has been well over two years since he graced this magazine’s are slowly starting to change into my own person. One day somebody’s pages, now is as good a time as any to catch up with Jimmy Iovine’s gonna have to deal with being compared to me. When B.o.B. came out newest signee. Here, Yelawolf speaks on the direction of his music, everybody was trying to say he sounds like Dre. Nipsey [Hussle] is dealing his new situation with Interscope and ongoing comparisons to with the Snoop comparisons. That’s who we are as people, we compare. Eminem. Eventually, that shit will go away completely. I flew up to meet with Emi- nem a couple months back, and just to settle it forever, Eminem told me, You’ve been on the rap scene for a few years, but it seems like people “I don’t know why people are comparing you to me, because you don’t are just starting to catch onto your music. Why do you think people sound anything like me. And not only do you not sound anything like me, are starting to listen now? you don’t sound like anything I’ve ever heard before.” I felt great [when he After we put out Trunk Muzik, people were waiting to hear me rap over said that]. I felt like, well I guess that settles that. 808’s and raw shit. We put out E. Bobby, and we put out Stereo, which was a Hip Hop tribute to classic rock. OZONE nominated that for One thing that sets you apart from other artists is your live show. an award [and] we got 5 [blunts] for that mixtape [review]. It made a lot You have crazy energy on stage. How do you gather your energy to of noise on the underground. I went from there and did this experimental perform your shows? project called Arena Rap. We put a band together, and we were doing I’m just passionate about my music. When I’m in the studio recording my shows around Atlanta. Then, just me and my team sat down and we were records, I can’t even get in the booth unless I’m hype about it. So I’m ex- like, lets just do some raw rap shit for this next project and let’s see how cited about the record, number one. Two, people’s energy gets me hype. it goes. After we put that out online, obviously the feature [“I Run”] with And it only takes one. It starts with me, but if I connect with one person, Slim Thug…that’s when people started turning their heads, like, “This kid it’s a wrap. Me and that one muthafucker are going to turn 50 to 100 to might have something.” After Slim ran that single for a while, 300 people out. And there’s always a few people that are super into it, and hit me up to do the “Mixin’ Up The Medicine” hook for , and I just go straight at them, and start putting on a show because I connect that was my first official video look. Then we dropped “Pop The Trunk,” with them. And that connection is addictive, it just grows as the show and that started getting a lot of attention. Then we put out “Good To Go,” goes on. When I did my show at Pacsun in Santa Monica, when I stepped featuring Bun B, and then Raekwon’s feature for “I Wish,” and by then we out on the stage, there were a bunch of people standing with their arms had a lot of attention on blogs. By the time we dropped Trunk Muzik, it crossed, but by the end of my set [they were] crowd surfing. I enjoy mak- was like people were just waiting for me to rap. ing fans at this point, because at the end of the day, I’m still brand new.

Was raw rap and 808’s the direction that you wanted to go with your You just got off tour with Wiz Khalifa. Was that your first tour? music? Or did you want to go in another direction? Yeah, it was the first time I had been on a tour, period. And Wiz, man… After Stereo, I really wanted to evolve into a band, so I did the Arena Rap what the fuck! This fool sells out everywhere. This dude is no fucking shit. It started doing really well around Atlanta, and we threw a show joke, man. And his fans are so fucking cool; they enjoy just having a good out there with a band. I had a fiddle player, a banjo player, guitar, drums, show. The tour has been dope, plus Wiz is really cool people. We get along turntables; it was just a crazy fucking show. L.A. Reid came, DJ Khaled was good, so we plan on continuing it. there; there were a bunch of people there to see the show. There were 2,000 people in there, and they still were like, “I don’t know” and passed. Next, you’re putting out a new version of Trunk Muzik, right? L.A. Reid said, “No, I’m good.” Khaled was like, “I don’t get it.” So, we kept Yeah, we decided to put a project out called Trunk Muzik: 0-60, which is doing shows, and nobody was showing signs of giving us any help. You pretty much a description of how fast this is moving, and also where we can’t keep continuously doing this as an independent label. You run out wanna take people. So we’re taking five or six fan favorites from Trunk of money. It gets to the point where you can’t even do shows anymore Muzik, adding on five to seven brand new records, and putting it out because it costs a lot of money to have a band and all that shit. So my distributed [through] Interscope. 0-60 will be out in September. team was like, “Do a rap project. If you don’t have a deal in six months, you can do whatever you wanna do.” And I’ll be damned; they had deal What’s your hometown of Gadsden, Alabama like? for me in six months, after I put out Trunk Muzik. Obviously, I’ve always Gadsden is a small town in Alabama, east of Birmingham, west of Atlanta. loved and will always love Hip Hop, but there was a point when it started Basically, I live in a blue collar, working-class town. There’s a lot of factory getting tainted…I just thought nobody’s ever gonna understand what I’m workers, people that work for Goodyear. My mom has been a bartender doing, so I might as well be underground forever. When we put out Trunk her whole life, my grandmother retired from Food World, my grandfather Muzik I got excited again and realized a new potential that I had. retired from Goodyear, and my great-grandfather retired from the steel plant. So it’s generations of working people. All this town is made of is So you signed with Interscope. Why did you choose to sign with fucking hand-to-hand combat, just fucking straight up survival. (laughs) them? My town is made up of some of the best, most humble people in the We had just got off tour with Wiz Khalifa and we went straight to South By world, and also some of the most dangerous people in the world. It’s like South West. And we did like nine shows in five days, and we killed SXSW. we love where you’re from, we’re proud of it… but it’s like, come on in but Everybody had somebody from a label out there, so after we did SXSW wipe your feet at the doormat. we flew from Texas to Los Angeles to meet with Jimmy Iovine and Luke Wood. We had met with a lot of labels prior to SXSW, and they all said Coming out of Alabama, what is your goal in Hip Hop? they wanted to do it, but they were just afraid. But when Jimmy and Luke I’d like to have a ten-year run. I have a ten-year plan. I wanna evolve, I flew us out there, they asked us, “Do y’all want to do this? Because if you wanna grow up with my fans. And that is the main goal, to continuously don’t want to do this, you’re wasting your time being here.” Basically the gain fans from music that’s evolving. None of us are gonna stay young. I same shit we had been telling other people, they told us. We’d walk into know my tastes grow and change, grow and change, so I expect the same a label and be like, “Look, man. Do y’all want to do this, cause if not, we’re for the people we’re making music for. So every project I’m just trying to leaving.” But they told it to us this time. And then creatively it made sense. challenge my last project, trying to outgrow it. Bigger venues, bigger are- No matter how normal I may feel about my music. I have to admit that nas, and make classics that last for a lifetime. I was listening to ’s what I do is still left field. Interscope has a history of putting out records AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted album and Cypress Hill’s shit the other day, like, from the left field, and being successful with it. damn this shit never really goes away. Biggie Smalls, Jay-Z, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, UGK, N.W.A, ; these people put out records that last Do you think part of the reason Interscope wanted to sign you was a lifetime. So I would like to be a part of that family. // because of the success Eminem had on their label? I don’t know. I can’t assume that. Based on his success, it’s fair to guess Words by Randy Roper that, but I wouldn’t assume that to be true. But obviously, not just Photo by Maurice G. Garland

OZONE MAG // 55 Paul Wall/Heart of a Champion Swishahouse/WARNER On Pall Wall’s fifth solo al- Plies/Goon Affiliated bum, the H-Town emcee’s Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic flow is as smooth as ever, but corny metaphors, Don’t expect anything new from which have plagued Wall his whole career, are Plies on Goon Affiliated. His abundant. Redundant lines like “flier than a mosquito” and “flier than a fourth album is the same formu- flock of pigeons” or “my wallet is stuffed like turkeys on Thanksgiving” la as his previous efforts. “Go Live” is a record to bang in and “my money’s stretching like Yoga class” are so laughable, it’s hard the clubs, “Get My Niggas Out” should satisfy the goons, to take Paul Wall seriously at times. Wall doesn’t spit too much that you and the bulk of the album caters to women. “Look Like” featuring Young haven’t heard from him before, but his rhymes about chasing paper, Jeezy and Fabolous is the only song with a rap collaboration, and one of the grillz and boppers, over good production, along with guest appear- album’s better songs. But annoying songs like “Bruh Bruh” and “Awesome,” ances from the likes of Lil Keke, Bun B, Jim Jones, Z-Ro, Yo Gotti, Devin along with “Rob Myself,” which is as ridiculous as the title would suggest, The Dude, Jay Electronica, Raekwon, Yelawolf and Slim Thug, and Paul’s make Goon Affiliated the weakest Plies album to date. – Randy Roper reunion with Chamilionaire on “Round Here” make Heart of a Champion another decent addition to his catalog. – Randy Roper

Drake/Thank Me Later Young Money/Cash Money/ Lil Jon/ Rock Universal In an attempt to revolu- Young Money is one of Hip tionize crunk music, Lil Jon Hop’s most powerful crews returns with . right now, and with Drake’s freshman release, Thank But trying to revitalize this Me Later, there’s little question why. Drake’s mixtape dead brand of rap music proved to be a tough task, success helped the Toronto native forge his identity but also set wildly high for even Lil Jon. Listeners that appreciate Jon’s get expectations for his debut album. It’s safe to say that Drizzy has met those crunk records will love the “Throw It Up, Pt. 2 (Remix)” with expectations, wisely selecting production to complement well-constructed and Waka Flocka Flame, and “G Walk” featuring Soulja Boy, but Jon’s bars. “Light It Up,” “The Resistance,” and the Nicki Minaj-assisted “Up All Night” elementary rhymes fail miserably, especially when he’s solo (“Get In Get are among the standouts on this nearly no-filler album, which makes you Out”). Luckily, Jon mainly sticks to producing and chants, while taking a wonder how long Drizzy can keep his streak going. – Rohit Loomba backseat to artists like Ice Cube & Game (“Killas”), Mario & R. Kelly (“Ms. Chocolate”), and teaming with artists like LMFAO (“Shots”) and 3OH!3 (“Hey”), which help salvage this mess of an album. – Randy Roper The-Dream/Love King Radio Killa/Def Jam R&B standout The-Dream returns Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek (Re- as the Love King for his third, and flection Eternal)/Revolu- possibly final, album. Twelve tions Per Minute tracks deep, Love King is on par with Dream’s first two Blacksmith/Warner albums and finds him continuing the story of his former Bros. love, Nikki, on “Nikki Pt. 2” and telling us her heart belongs in chains at the There’s not much left to be desired after listening to bottom of a lake on “Abyss.” There is very little need for the skip button, RPM’s, ’s follow-up to their 2000 although some may use it for “Yamaha” until it grows on them. Otherwise, debut. Though Kweli and Hi-Tek haven’t been an official duo over the tracks like the piano-driven ”February Love” find Dream in his comfort zone last 10 years, they’ve maintained an emcee/producer relationship, with of craftily created R&B. Once again, Dream gives us an album that will prob- the final product always the same – commendable music. From “Just ably be one of the year’s best in R&B. – Rohit Loomba Begun,” the super-collabo co-starring Jay Electronica, J. Cole, and Mos Def, to “Paranoid” with Bun B, RPM’s has a balanced serving of guest appearances. Along with socially charged songs like “In This World” and 8Ball & MJG/Ten Toes Down “Black Gold,” Kweli and Hi-Tek offer lighter fare like “Midnight Hour” with Grand Hustle/E1 and “Get Loose” featuring Chester French, making this album Take Ball & G, add a few Drumma both traditional yet surprising. – Ms. Rivercity Boy beats, throw in some verses from Dirty South luminaries like T.I., Young Dro, Lil Boosie, Bun B, David Banner and Slim Cee-Lo/Stray Bullets Thug, let Grand Hustle oversee the whole thing, and you’ll Cee-Lo Green deserves to end up with 8Ball & MJG’s eighth album. While that sounds good on paper, be mentioned as one of Ten Toes Down isn’t the Tennessee duo’s best work. Boring production, forced the most versatile artists collaborations (especially “Fuck U Mean” featuring Soulja Boy), and lack of walking the planet. After growth in 8Ball & MJG’s lyrics and storytelling still makes for a decent project succeeding in just about every genre but country that can give them relevance in today’s rap climate. But on the other hand, and gospel, Lo pretty much meshes every form of you’d expect more from their Grand Hustle album. – Randy Roper music together on this effort that is only supposed to be a appetizer for Lady Killer. Even though 1% of the album features him rapping, Cee-Lo’s ability to stretch boundaries puts your personal preferences and nostal- gia to the side. This is a truly unique piece of work. - Maurice G. Garland Trina/Amazin’ Slip-N-Slide/EMI Considering Trina has lasted in Big Boi/Sir Luscious the rap game for over ten years Leftfoot with minimal talent, this album Def Jam is properly titled. While plenty of other rappers, male and Even though this album female, have came and went, Trina brings a good body has been completed for of work on her latest album (and believe it or not, I’m not talking about her nearly three years, Big Boi proves that he specializes figure). “I Want It All,” “Always” and “Make Way” show Trina’s growth as an in making timeless music with an album that would artist and a woman, while cuts like “That’s My Attitude” and “Currency” give be potent no matter the year. Here, Big proves that he is more than listeners the Trina that fans are accustomed to. I wouldn’t call Trina’s album capable of being a solo artist. Now that he has all of the microphone “amazin’,” but the baddest chick did deliver a solid project on her fifth go responsibilities, Big takes the opportunity to speak on politics and round. – Randy Roper community issues in a way that he might not have been able to on an Outkast album, but not without sacrificing fun nature that attracted people to ‘Kast in the first place. – Maurice G. Garland

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Trey Songz Venue: The Times-Union Center City: Jacksonville, FL Date: April 23rd, 2010 Photo: Terrence Tyson

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