YOUR FAVORITE RAPPER’S FAVORITE MAGAZINE PIMP C PILL BUN B DOGG POUND THE PACK YELAWOLF PAUL WALL DORROUGH BIG KRIT RICK YELAWOLF ROSS OZONE MAG // 1 YOUR FAVORITE RAPPER’S FAVORITE MAGAZINE BUN B RICK ROSS DORROUGH PAUL WALL BIG KRIT MASSPIKE MILES YELAWOLF PILL DOGG POUND THE PACK BOBBY BRACKINS PIMP C 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, E-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 FREEWAY 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 TORCH 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 Ali, 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 CHIN CHECK 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, Trina 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 Atlanta, 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, Akon, the past 8 years, OZONE has had plenty of memorable covers. Here, T.I., Fat Joe, Baby and Lil Wayne we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the most powerful covers/issues since we (June 2007): came in the game 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 Trick Daddy (Jun 2006): History.” This issue is widely con- David Banner (Oct 2007): sidered to be Probably one of our most timely and power- one of the ful covers today, 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 Albums 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 Southern Hip Hop albums. tempted to bring every artist in the Bay Area to work together…we’re still waiting. Pitbull (April 2005): DJ Drama (May 2007): For this issue OZONE teamed up with MTV In his first cover story after the infamous 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 young buck 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 Webbie (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 Houston’s deadly fascination C interview T.I. for the cover story, since with syrup a.k.a. lean 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 Scarface 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.