REAL, RAW, & UNCENSORED WEST COAST RAP SHIT

THE FEDERATION TOO BISHOP LAMONT MR. CARTOON $HORT house MITCHY SLICK back in tha MISTAH FAB DJ STRONG BIG FASE & MORE

OZONE WEST // 1 2 // OZONE WEST editor’s note Publisher Julia Beverly

Editor-In-Chief N. Ali Early

Art Director Tene Gooden

Music Editor Randy Roper

ADVERTISING SALES Che Johnson Isaiah Campbell no id Contributors D-Ray and my ninja finally caught Tyler Perry’s men whose destiny is to go to jail? Meanwhile, their DJ BackSide latest flickDaddy’s Little Girls and I female counterparts find their way through college, Joey Colombo Memust say I was pleasantly surprised. graduate school and then the corporate world, if Regi Mentle I remember him talking on the radio about how they so choose. Wendy Day America didn’t want to accept the idea of a single Black father raising children… and wanting to do We talk about Hip Hop being grown with the button Street Reps it. So I got to thinking – because I do that – and down shirts and all the materialistic bullshit that Anthony Deavers it struck a chord. A week prior to taking in that comes with it, but it doesn’t mean anything if we Bigg P-Wee movie I watched a disturbing video on the news. don’t look out for each other. Perry addressed it in Dee1 The next day there were endless Internet streams of the movie when Gabrielle Union’s character bel- Demolition Men the same video, which I’m sure most of conscious lowed that if she saw “another 30 year old brotha DJ E-Z Cutt America has been made aware of: two babies wearing a throwback” she was going to scream… DJ Jam-X smoking weed in the presence of their uncle and and then she did (both). By no means is this an DJ K-Tone his friend. They knew how to hold it, pass it and attempt to point the finger at the dude who carries DJ Quote yes, smoke it. Subsequent reports revealed that his own bottle of hot sauce to Red Lobster (to keep DJ Strong & DJ Warrior the uncle and friend are both from “dysfunctional it all the way one hunned, I had a throwback on John Costen households,” ones where mothers sleep in the very when I was watching the movie – Jerry Rice, #88, Kewan Lewis next room while her toddlers are toking marijuana. Mississippi Valley State – you know I stay Bay’d Lisa Coleman Maybe she was high herself. Who knows? This same out!). I think Hip Hop means to keep us young and Maroy household is responsible for producing multiple vibrant, but not ignorant. We have to grow with Rob J Official family members who are either currently in jail, on our circumstances and realize that as the world Rob Reyes their way or were recently released. changes, so does our culture. Sherita Saulsberry William Major A couple weeks later I come to find out that these Take AMG and DJ Quik for instance, now known as same babies, who have since been turned over to The Fixxers (pg. 20). Their whole mission in coming the state of Texas, had cocaine in their innocent back into the Hip Hop fold (congrats on the Inter- systems as well. Judging from the way the uncle scope deal) they say, is to abandon the identity and his friend were acting it was just weed. But to that people already have of them and come anew. think that they could have had the indecency to Knowing that they’ve been in the thick of it and are lace it with ‘caine or worse, give the babies that able to identify a need for change, it makes all the shit straight up, was disheartening to say the least. more sense for their offspring extended to follow. Much the same is the case with Mr. Cartoon (pg. 18), ozone west So I mulled over growing up and how hard it has to who’s seen his fair share of struggles and poverty be in this day and age. I’m sure we had problems stricken circumstances, only to become the most 04 THE WEST IS BACKSIDE back in the ‘70’s, but we didn’t have disruptive sought after tattoo artist in the country. And then 05-09 CALIFORNIA LOVE forces like crack rock ravishing our communities there’s our cover subject, Too $hort (22). Perhaps 06 HOW THE WEST WAS WON across the country. We didn’t have the threat of AIDS the most consistent artist in Hip Hop’s illustrious 08 SXSW Review at every sexual turn and we didn’t have Hip Hop. As existence, he’s still at it. Survived five years with 10 RELEASE THERAPY: MISTAH FAB it’s become the most celebrated musical genre ever, Jive when all they wanted to promote was popcorn, 11 WHO’S READING OZONE our culture has taken its hits and deservedly so. As bubblegum bullshit like it was nothin’. Count how 13 BANGIN’ 101: BIG FASE reporters from the hoods of the United States our many albums he’s dropped and then add another 14 PATIENTLY WAITING: JUICE prophets/artists are obligated to discuss what pops one to it. Act like you know beeeyatch!! 15 PATIENTLY WAITING: MITCHY SLICK off in the streets. Be it drugs, the police force, sex 16 PATIENTLY WAITING: ROCCETT or any other matter of importance, it’s their duty to See, we may not think we have leaders because 17 DJ PROFILE: DJ STRONG report the news. It is what it is. If the news is 85% their names don’t end in King, Shabazz or Ali, but 18-19 MR. CARTOON negative, we are committed to telling it without we do. They’re in our CD collections, in studios and 20-21 THE FIXXERS reservation and/or prejudice. However, there has to in the thick of the hood holding down anonymous 22-24 TOO $HORT come a time when we begin to glorify something storefronts. And we have a duty to identify who 25 CD REVIEWS other than the same rhetoric bullshit that’s clouded they are and what message it is we are supposed to 26 END ZONE our vision for more than two decades. get from their speak.

Cold thing about it is we love weed on the West Peace 2 fingers. Coast. It’s to the point where you can damn near do it legally in California. The case with the boys in *Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and Texas was rare in that they were dumb enough to friends of Johnny “Ca$h” Castaneda – a promising tape the shit, but I’m sure it happens in other parts rapper from the city of Richmond whose life was of the country. So at what point do we stop? When taken away by a gunshot wound to the head. Thizz do we start teaching our seeds instead of rearing In Peace.

OZONE WEST // 3 The West is Back…Side: The Bay Area’s DJ BackSide links up with the Best of the West to see what’s really goin’ on in their heads! Bishop Lamont

he Bay Area’s DJ BackSide links up with the Yeah, I love Scott Storch. He’s my Best of the West to see what’s really goin’ on white chocolate. Tin their heads! And Scotty boy dissed Timbaland. Keepin’ it lowridin’ and rather Hollywood, I kept it Yeah, it will blow over though. They in L.A. for this one. I just had to, because perhaps need to realize they are both producer Bishop Lamont might have insight on Anna Nicole rockstars and cut that shit out. It’s like Smith’s happenings, Britney Spears’ shaved head, singers - that shit that happened with this Black President thing, and even an idea of Justin and Prince. You can’t step to his Boss’ Detox album finally coming out AND not Prince, man. International lover. Scan- to mention if Dre makes his own beats! During dalous. Sexy never left, shit. I feel sexier this interview (which took place at 3 AM) I was than a muthafucka. surrounded by not only upcoming Aftermath artist Bishop Lamont, but also rappers Warren G, Ohwee, Are we ready for a black President? DJ Skee and other bystanders in a mini gym lo- We are ready for A PRESIDENT. It’s not cated in the back of their state-of-the-art studio about being black or white. in L.A. An interesting melting pot, to say the least. So we’re not ready? DJ BackSide: I read up about you, lightweight, and I don’t know. Stop callin’ shit black or everyone I talk to in the L.A. area has your name white. Does the ABC Channel call them- in their mouth. selves the white network? We keep puttin’ Bishop Lamont: It was all lies. (Warren G and color in front. If the people are just ready Ohwee laugh) to let go of these color lines and respect the man Life is fucked up a lot of times. And we pray for for the man. The President is a job. It has no color them. You’re signed to Aftermath? or ethnicity in it. It’s a position. Yeah, well, it’s actually Delicious Vinyl Records, but IPod, IPhone? yeah, Aftermath. So what’s the craziest white girl story out there? Nah, I’m a caveman, I don’t like none of that shit. We’ve got “Anna Nicole Smith: Who’s the Father” Even Bluetooth, what the fuck is that? Got shit What is that like being signed to such a legendary and “Britney Spears: Shaved.” comin’ outta your ear like a microwave and shit. I label as Aftermath? I don’t see either one of them being crazy look- ain’t fuckin’ wit that shit. But I mean, do what you It’s churchurry! That’s Dre, that’s the boss, I love ing at the circumstances that these people lived do, people. I’m gonna keep it caveman. him, I love it. We got Warren Gizzle liftin’ weights under. Its said that muthafuckas are fightin’ over in the back. (literally Warren G is lifting weights in a dead woman’s body. It’s sad that muthafuckers Which Jennifer: Jennifer Hudson? Jennifer Lopez? the background) It’s great workin’ with them. It’s are fighting over money she was fighting over. And Or Jennifer Aniston? churchurry. Britney, she’s been under pressure from Mickey Man, I’ll take the one De La Soul was talkin’ about Mouse ‘til now. But really, the craziest white in that song. Jennifer O Jenny, ‘cause she sound Before we go on, what is the churchurry business? woman is Patty Hearst. Do your homework on that sexier than a muthafucka. But those other Jen- Churchurry, it’s like waving the magic wand of the white chick! nifers are doin’ their thang, so bless them too. tabernacle, ya know? It’s a whole wand that just waves goodness, feel me? Use it in a sentence: Your thoughts on the Brandy/Ray J Norwood fam- This mixtape called Nigga Noize you have out right The way you was spittin’ that charisma, that was ily right now? now is pretty dope! And you’re on the cover in a churchurry. The way the bitch was movin;’ her ass Bless them. And bless Sonja Norwood, their Klu Klux Klan ‘fit. Bold, don’t you think? that was churchurry. mother. She just had a dinner with my mother, Shit, the KKK stole the white outfits from a Chris- Dre’s momma, and Game’s momma. All the Mothers tian sector. So I just did the opposite of that and So does Dr. Dre really make his beats? of Rappers, just had dinner together. turned it back, turned a negative thing and made Hell yeah, shit. Ask his bank account. All you it positive. And make it funny, because that’s what niggas wanna be him, wanna sound like him. His Mothers of Rappers. “M.O.R.”? Is that a cult? these KKK niggas are. Comical. They take perfectly Black Card is hella heavy, nigga, you know what it Fa shizzle. That’s Churchurry right there. You came good white sheets that you can lay and fuck is. Y’all niggas know what the fuck it is, y’all nig- wit it. bitches on, and cut them up. I mean, with the mix- gas gonna buy Detox, and y’all still buyin’ Chronic tape I just wanted to give niggas a home-cooked 2001 tryin’ to figure this nigga out. Well, Ray J is a porn star now. meal. They been dealin’ wit fast food out there Yup. And he’s the shit. Do that shit well, my nigga. in Hip Hop. It was meant for Black History Month, I’m just askin’. People sayin he just got ghost I got a porno comin out called Smackula. I’mma really. Listen to it and you’ll see. peoples. So Detox is really comin’ out this year? just wear a cape with Timbalands on. I was gonna Man, all I know is, God is good, Jesus Christ is our be a porn star before I started to rap, cause I got I can attest to that! Lord and Savior. I mean, that’s like askin’ who a big dick. But anyways, shouts out to Ray J. killed JFK. I don’t know. That’s Area 51. For more on Bishop Lamont, make sure you check And Brandy? out his website at www.myspace.com/bisho- So you have this song produced by Scott Storch I mean, it was an accident. And to prosecute plamont and look out for his album to be released with Stacy Adams, yes? someone for that - you should just pray for her. on Aftermath in 2007!

4 // OZONE WEST CALIFORNIA LOVE WEST COAST PHOTO GALLERIES

01 // Young Buck & Big Von @ Club 17 (Oakland, CA) 02 // Traxamillion & The Jacka @ Toons Night Club (San Jose, CA) 03 // Tito Bell, Mohawk Marlon, & Dru @ Hot Import Nights (San Mateo, CA) 04 // The Pack @ Hot Import Nights (San Mateo, CA) 05 // Crest Creepaz @ Thizz Picnic (Vallejo, CA) 06 // Kafani & Meez @ Club 17 for DJ Juice’s birthday party (Oakland, CA) 07 // DJ Drama & TI @ Wynn Hotel (Las Vegas, NV) 08 // Bernie & Bubba @ Club Raw (San Jose, CA) 09 // DOT & Band Aide @ Club 17 for DJ Juice’s birthday party (Oakland, CA) 10 // Kilo & Lil Bruce @ Thizz Picnic (Vallejo, CA) 11 // Unk @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 12 // Rapstarz & Unk @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 13 // Too $hort & Tuff @ Club 17 (Oakland, CA) 14 // J Diggs & Dirty Girls @ The Aladdin for Thizz All Star party (Las Vegas, NV) 15 // Messy Marv & Guce @ All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 16 // Bobby Valentino, Lil Fate, & Playaz Circle @ All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 17 // Scoob & Donny @ Oakland vs Memphis dance battle (Oakland, CA) 18 // Shawnna & Allite @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 19 // Kid & Shobiz @ Toons Night Club (San Jose, CA) 20 // Fedx & Jacka @ All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 21 // J Stalin & Lil Al @ Thizz vs Done Deal basketball game (San Francisco, CA)

Photo Credits: D-Ray (01,02,03,04,05,06,08,09,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,18,19,20,21); J Lash (07,16)

OZONEOZONE WEST WEST // // 5 5 ) in the Streets (What’s Good

he Westside of Compton did it again, twice! Young Hootie Props to Bad Lucc, Damani and Soopafly for coming together under the name has been making a buzz in the streets with a couple Western Union. It’s great that not everyone feels like they gotta be a solo art- mixtapes, his label Larceny Entertainment and various ist and realizes how few opportunities there are for rappers to get money out other projects in the works. I mentioned dude’s cameo here. There is no shame in linking up and sharing that cheese. Don’t let pride on El Dorado Red’s “On Bloodz” last issue, but he more or jealousy get in the way of you getting up in the world. than deserves his own spotlight. Sillk Calone and City Boy round out Larceny’s first phase of attack on the area’s rap And I don’t even get what’s with the hate. It seems like everybody has scene. From the same neighborhood comes a legend-in- something to say about somebody. It wasn’t always like that. People used to the-making, Six Million. Six is no newcomer to the game, be able to get money and keep their mouths shut, but too many rappers think having produced part of the late, great Mausberg’s solo it’s in their best interest to speak on other artists like it’s their duty. Most of album Non Fiction, and I gotta say there is no artist out these rappers don’t even really know each other. They chop it up for a minute there who I’d cosign quicker. I wore out three copies of his mixtape The Sub- at an awards show or some shit and put one another on blast a week later way Vol. 1, which had him collaborating with the Young Hoggs and the Black over assumptions made. Beef ain’t nothing new, but I don’t see why people TekT Rangers, Six’s click that features Peenutt the Weasel, Slimm Ruger and aren’t working harder to make it something old. Keeping your mouth shut whole slew of other dudes. Six was locked up for a minute, but he’s preparing day to day but only speaking on certain people for personal gain in this rap to drop his solo album California Sunshine. business is hypocritical. These should not be considered two different worlds. How you act on a record and how you act in real life should go hand in hand. Go East on Rosecrans and take a left on Bullis and you’re sure to find LBG on If they don’t, you got some thinking to do because you are not being real to the block making a name for himself. Lil Bob Gotti mixes West Coast gangster yourself or anyone you fuck with. And on top of all that, unless someone says shit with gritty New York realism. “Get Your Shit Together” is fuckin’ the your name on a track or in an interview, you got no reason to think he talking streets up for real right now and that’s on the hood! about you. That shit is plain foolish! How much of this drama was over some beef shit? And no one gets away from all this like it doesn’t apply to ‘em. Watts native Jay Rock just finished a tour with The Game. I caught one of Both coasts lost a ryder over some stupid shit. I know none of y’all forgot the shows and dude had the crowd feelin it fo’ sho’! If “Lift Me Up” doesn’t about Tupac or Biggie. Didn’t think so. make this guy a household name, then people are brazy! Coincidently, Jay Rock’s flow and style reminds me a lot of his tourmate who lives about 10 I know this is a music magazine but I gotta get political for a second with minutes south of the infamous Nickerson Garden Projects, where Jay was y’all. For those that don’t know, the streets of L.A. have taken a turn for raised. Anyone from the area knows that place is no joke with a reputation for the worst with a heavy war between Mexican and black gangs taking place murders, dope dealing and one of the deepest, most vicious gangs banging in every day. Now usually I’d just charge that shit to the game, but it’s getting the hoods of Los Angeles. His Watts Finest mixtapes are hittin the streets hard a bit too out of hand with innocent civilians getting gunned down over skin and his Warner Bros debut should reduce the city to shambles. tone and racial slurs getting hit up on the walls alongside the set names. Depending on what story is airing on the news, the picture is painted as one A few legends are getting active again. DJ Quik has dropped the DJ and side or the other starting this drama, but there really ain’t no one to blame formed The Fixxers with long-time partner-in-crime AMG. They just signed to but the people who keep the shit going and add fuel to the fire. I won’t say Interscope and have a single called “Can You Werk Wit’ Dat” that’s sure to be a names, because no one needs to be shouted out or get recognition off this monster. Tha Dogg Pound got a new album that just dropped called Dog Chit, shit, but there has been a few uncalled for disses coming from dudes trying but Snoop’s second wave of popularity over the past couple years has pushed to get stardom off going at a big name over some hood shit. This is NOT what them out of the shadows right in time for the new west takeover. 40 Glocc, Hip Hop, the West Coast or the streets in general needs. Is a check worth that despite not having an album dropping anytime soon, seems to be as active shit? I hope y’all can’t convince yourselves of that, because it’s gonna get to as ever thanks to his affiliation with G-Unit. He recently jumped on the hyphy a point where I won’t have anything left to write about. Get money together craze with his video “So Hyphy” that’s a trip. No word on Spider Loc or Lil Eazy and influence the hood. Snoop Dogg’s “Vato” with B Real was a nice attempt E’s debut albums. I really thought both of these would have dropped sooner at bringing blacks and browns together, but a lot of people put that shit on but they keep getting pushed back. I have no insight on this but hopefully blast like it wasn’t legit because B Real aint from a Sureno hood. Who gives they’ll hit before people forget they was even coming. a fuck!? It’s time to squash this shit for real because there is no reason to drag this out any further. Fruit Town, Jungle Stones, Tree Top, Tortilla Flats, Big Wy from The Relativez is doing his solo thing now, but it’s still love with Compton Varrio 70, Lueders Park, 18 Street, South Los, Hoover… the list is his partner and cousin Suga Buga. His second Hood Hitchcock mixtape is endless. Y’all need to end the drama and we need to make this money, point comin real soon and he just inked a deal with Byrd Gang West, which was blank period. okay’d by Jim Jones of Harlem, New York’s Dipset movement. El Dorado Red is working in the mix too and it’s sure to be fire if the tracks on Wy’s Myspace I hope I can bounce through next month and open some more eyes to shit I say anything. It’s a beautiful thing when a legend like Big Wy who has been don’t think gets enough love. Don’t give up on SoCal. For real, don’t do it. You with this shit since the Bangin’ on Wax days can still get money and open up gonna regret that shit if you do. // doors for other young rappers from the hood. Plenty of people will hate on this deal due to hood politics, but y’all just hating so you need to sit down. Words by Regi Mentle ([email protected])

6 // OZONE WEST CALIFORNIA LOVE WEST COAST PHOTO GALLERIES

) in the Streets (What’s Good

01 // Kafani, Uno of The Pack, & Sweets @ Icehouse Lounge for All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 02 // B-Legit, Cellski, & Mistah FAB @ Club 17 (Oakland, CA) 03 // Too $hort & Copper @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 04 // Killa Squad & Chuy @ Club 17 for DJ Juice’s birthday party (Oakland, CA) 05 // Scoot, Ray Rydah, Quest, & Loc @ Club 17 for DJ Juice’s birthday party (Oakland, CA) 06 // Rob-Lo & The Jacka @ Fat City (San Francisco, CA) 07 // Chingy & Trina share a moment at the slot machines @ PF Chang’s (Las Vegas, NV) 08 // Tigger & DJ Paul @ BET’s All Star Weekend event (Las Vegas, NV) 09 // J-Bo & Rick Lee @ Hot Import Nights (San Mateo, CA) 10 // Gucci Poochie & Torch of the Carol City Cartel @ All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 11 // DJ Quest & SK @ Hot Import Nights (San Mateo, CA) 12 // Turf Talk & E-40 @ Hot Import Nights (San Mateo, CA) 13 // Mistah FAB & Fillmore Mike @ Thizz vs Done Deal basketball game (San Francisco, CA) 14 // The A’z & Stunna of The Pack @ Hot Import Nights (San Mateo, CA) 15 // Kuzzo Fly, B-Love, & Gorilla Pits @ KMEL’s streetlow car show (Monterey, CA) 16 // Rick Ross & crew @ All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 17 // Bavgate & Spoon @ Club 17 for DJ Juice’s birthday party (Oakland, CA) 18 // Jacka & B-Luv @ Fat City (San Francisco, CA) 19 // DJ Amen & PSD Tha Drivah @ Club 17 for DJ Juice’s birthday party (Oakland, CA) 20 // J Lash & ladies @ the All Star game (Las Vegas, NV) 21 // Debra Lee & Jermaine Dupri @ BET’s All Star Weekend event (Las Vegas, NV)

Photo Credits: D-Ray (01,02,03,04,05,06,09,11,12,13,14,15,17,18,19); J Lash (07,10,16,20); Ray Tamarra (08,21)

OZONEOZONE WEST WEST // // 7 7 South By Southwest

The Pack & the Federation

The night began slowly in Austin, TX as the vibe was seemingly more Open Mic Night than a South by Southwest Bay Area Showcase as Saafir and Kirby Dominant struggled to connect with the Beauty Bar Patio crowd. But things changed quickly as soon as The Pack (above) took the stage. The youngsters from Cali headed straight for the end of the stage while the crowd inched closer in anticipation. The Pack jumped into their single “I’m Shinin’,” raising the show’s intensity almost instanta- neously. Next, the group went into “Candy” which had the ladies shaking and popping, and when the group switched into “Oh Go” the crowded responded by going dummy retarded.

The Pack’s live show warmed up the crowd for The Federation (below) who raised the hyphy levels even higher as they went into “Go Dumb.” The Federation paused for a brief second for Stresmatic to take a picture of the crowd for his Myspace gallery but jumped back into their set with “18 Dummy” as The Pack joined them onstage. The Federation kept it going by breaking out their shades for “I Wear My Stunna Glasses At Night” and ended the evening with “Get You Naked You Beezy,” which had some audience members taking off their shirts and waving them around like a helicopter as if Petey Pablo was in the build- ing.

At the night’s end, the Pack and Federation had represented hyphy and showed SXSW goers what it meant to go dumb by Bay standards. //

Words by Randy Roper // Photos by Eric N. Perrin

8 // OZONE WEST CALIFORNIA LOVE WEST COAST PHOTO GALLERIES

01 // Geezy, Magnolia Chop, Trac, & Treal Real @ The Grill (Oakland, CA) 02 // Rico, Mistah FAB, & Unk @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 03 // Vital, Equipto, & Jonas @ Fat City (San Francisco, CA) 04 // K-Loc & Kid @ Toons Night Club (San Jose, CA) 05 // The TJ’s DJ’s staff hit it bit at All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) - Dior George 06 // E-40 & Slowpoke @ Hot Import Nights (San Mateo, CA) 07 // Big Rich & Beeda Weeda @ Thizz vs Done Deal basketball game (San Francisco, CA) 08 // Bow Wow & KD @ Johnny Rockets (Las Vegas, NV) - Karen Douglas 09 // Kuzzo, Eddie Projex, & Shooter @ Jamie Foxx afterparty (Las Vegas, NV) 10 // SK & DJ Juice @ Club 17 for DJ Juice’s birthday party (Oakland, CA) 11 // Tone, Rob Lo, & Fedx @ Fat City (San Francisco, CA) 12 // Mohawk Marlon, Coco, Ice-T, & Ken @ Icehouse Lounge for All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 13 // Andre Harrell, Diddy, Mary J Blige, & Kendu Isaacs @ Ceasar’s Palace (Las Vegas, NV) 14 // Rich Boy & Fizzo @ Jamie Foxx afterparty (Las Vegas, NV) 15 // Mac Mall, Ray Luv, & Lil Ray Luv @ Thizz vs Done Deal basketball game (San Francisco, CA) 16 // Dru Down & J-Bo @ Club 17 (Oakland, CA) 17 // Killa Keise & DJ Juice @ Club 17 for DJ Juice’s birthday party (Oakland, CA) 18 // Mac Mall & Matthew @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 19 // J-Bo & Rich @ Club 17 (Oakland, CA) 20 // Tuff & Bavgate @ Club 17 for DJ Juice’s birthday party (Oakland, CA) 21 // DJ Quest & DJ Juice @ Fat City (San Francisco, CA) 22 // Kafani & Rick Lee @ KMEL’s streetlow car show (Monterey, CA)

Photo Credits: Dior George (05); D-Ray (01,02,03,04,06,07,09,10,11,12,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22); J Lash (13); Karen Douglas (08)

OZONEOZONE WEST WEST // // 9 9 fter months of preparation for the heavily anticipated video for his me telling them that whatever they try to do they can’t ban me. I’m still gon’ regional smash, “Ghost Ride The Whip,” Oakland’s own Mistah FAB be live in the streets and it’s still gon’ be people in the streets talkin’ about was given the go ahead to film. Because cable networks considered it. So I’m doin’ that with Dow Jones and DJ Skee and that’ll blow up and we’ll ghostridingA itself “public endangerment,” FAB was forced to go with Plan use the momentum from that until my album The Baydestrian drops May 15th. B for the video concept and used the original Ghostbusters car. With MTV, BET and a host of other cable networks on deck to push the video he was I’m really not that mad when I think about it. It motivates me and my only accosted by Ghostbusters fanatics, who deemed his street interpretation of recourse is to do it again. If I did it then I can do it again. It ain’t like I’m one the ‘80’s movie “inappropriate.” Thousands of dollars later, for a project he of them dudes who’s on his last leg. This whole music game is at the begin- personally financed, the Freestyle King was forced to answer to Columbia ning for me. I did the independent thing. I look at it like it’s high school. Pictures, Atlantic Records and “Hannity & Colmes,” the latter to explain antics High school is my graduation. When I first got at it I was in high school and I that some claim have inspired reckless and even fatal behavior across the na- graduated and went to college. College was my second album and my senior tion. OZONE caught up with Fabby in an effort to allow him to “air it out.” year is my senior project and that’s The Baydestrian and then I go on into the pros. I mean, I’m only 25 years old and I’ve done a lot of stuff that people It’s kinda crazy for me cause I spent a lot of time and a lot of hard effort in twice my age haven’t done yet. But at the same time some of those same the movement that I’ve been tryna create. I did the “Ghost Ride the Whip” people have done stuff that I can’t even imagine doing. So I just look at it video. I spent my own money, put a lot of time and focus into it and at first as a learning experience. I look at the time and money I spent, but that’s they really wasn’t tryna put it on. Then they finally came around after about promotion. Look at all the promotion I got from it!! I been on Hannity and seven edits of the video and let it go. We got “Jam of the Week,” got added to Colmes! That’s crazy!! Just from doin’ that that’s promotion in and of itself. So MTV University and a lot of other stuff was in motion. We were finna do 106th the money that I spent I just look at it like it’s promotion money. It ain’t like & Park, the whole shindig. my money is about to stop. I’m a hustler so I’ma always be able to create an avenue for myself to get money. I’ma keep workin’. I love competition and You know how they got the Star Wars, the Trekkies, Star Trek diehard fans? A challenges. They’re always amusing to me because there’s so many critics and lot of Ghostbusters diehard fans had started this website really tryna knock so many speculations as to what I’ma be able to do and whether I’ma be able me for what I was doin’. Then it was, “Man that’s not right. He’s not represen- to deal with the adversity. Once you face adversity that defines the character tin’ the Bay right,” and I didn’t even understand it. So I kinda lashed out at of a person. What are you going to do when you go through something? Are them and they just took it to the fullest extreme that they could take it to. I you gon’ curl up and tuck tail or are you gon’ come back strong. I choose to guess they got Columbia Pictures behind them and Columbia hit us up talkin’ come back strong. bout I wasn’t representin’ the movie right. They got to talkin’ all type of crazy shit about what they want the movie to be remembered for. All types of shit. When I went on Hannity and Comes I wanted to show that anytime somebody So they hit MTV up, hit Atlantic and told them they if they didn’t pull the video infiltrates a suburban area, it’s all of a sudden a problem. When N.W.A. was they’re going to sue the corporation. So after everything, I’m just sittin’ there doin’ they thang and little white kids was wearin’ baggy clothes and tryna like, “Wow!! Damn, I just spent this amount of thousands, went through this get jheri curls and sportin’ black on black, white America went crazy. The amount of bullshit, did this, did that, had preparations for this, for that and only reason they came down on it was because they was showin’ clips of you just pull the video like that?” ghostridin’ and it was all white kids in suburban areas. When it crossed over it was a problem because you’re no longer affecting your community. You’re So they pull the video and they even try to pull it from YouTube. They really affecting their community. They try to point the finger at people and say that wanted to kill my whole momentum. But I’ve been through so much negative ghostridin’ is dangerous, but there has to be a point in our lives when we stuff in life that something like that could never stop me from going to the become responsible for our own actions. If I go out in the middle of the street next level. We can take a negative and turn it into a positive. So I hit up all in the middle of traffic and get hit by a car, how can I blame you if you had a my friends that I have in high places. The media outlets, the Internet and song called “In the Middle of the Street?” Shouldn’t I be wise enough to know people who got the moms and pops videos. They gon’ still keep it lit and all what’s good for me and what’s not good for me? my MySpace friends is still gon’ keep it on they page. At the end of the day my main objective is to turn this negative into a positive and continue to reap Unfortunately some lives have been lost due to some people tryna carry out the benefits from it and laugh at ‘em in they face. If you’ve overcome certain this stunna ghostridin’ and that’s nuthin’ you wanna brag about. That’s on things in life, that’s what makes you appreciate it more. A lot of people get your soul. But at the same time, these were adults. They don’t need someone overnight stardom and overnight credibility and they don’t really appreciate to hold their hand. They are grown and they should know right from wrong the hard effort that you gotta put into it. In this industry and whatever else and they should be held accountable for their actions. Ghostridin’ is not you do in life you have to put the time in and try to overcome things. I just something that’s easy to do. It is dangerous, but if you were able to put appreciate it because I realize it’s just another obstacle in life that I have to ghostridin’ in a controlled environment, it would be one of the biggest things overcome. And when we overcome it I’ll laugh at the success rate knowing to do. For those that don’t know the Bay Area culture, a sideshow is like a big there was so much opposition. I’ll be able to tell them years later that I’m car show and people would love to see it. When cowboys first started ridin’ still a success story. bulls it was dangerous too, but when they put them in a controlled environ- ment, they called it the “rodeo.” That’s one of America’s favorite pastimes. It’s wild cause the day that I found out it was funny. It was funny in a scandalous way though. It was like hysteria. You’re so in disbelief and so in I study the greats. I study Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, all the greats and awe that you can’t believe that it just happened. But people that get banned I realize that they all went through challenges in their lives. This is only a eventually became huge: N.W.A, Luke, ‘Pac, Too $hort, so that just put me in challenge that was meant for me to get over. If I wanna claim greatness, then a list amongst legends. Those are all-time greats and I got banned just like I gotta overcome this, and that’s what I’m going to do. // they did. That’s great. It’s huge. As told to N. Ali Early I got a mixtape comin’ out called Can’t Ban the Ghostrider. It’s basically just Photo by D-Ray

10 // OZONE WEST west coast who’s reading ozone? 01 // J-Diggs @ KMEL’s streetlow car show (Monterey, CA) 02 // Pit- bull @ Barcelona Club (Sunnyvale CA) 03 // JT The Bigga Figga & Young Buck @ Club 17 (Oakland, CA) 04 // Shawnna signing autographs @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 05 // Grown Up Goddi @ All Star weekend (Las Ve- gas, NV) 06 // Flip Side @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 07 // Tito Bell & J-Bo @ Hot Import Nights (San Mateo, CA) 08 // Rick Lee & Network @ KMEL’s streetlow car show (Monterey, CA) 09 // Darryl @ The Aladdin for Thizz All Star party (Las Vegas, NV) 10 // Kid @ Toons Night Club (San Jose, CA) 11 // Lil Al @ Booker’s (East Oakland, CA) 12 // DJ Jam-X & Persia (Los Angeles, CA) 13 // Bavgate @ his photo shoot (East Oakland, CA) 14 // Cup- cake & Boo @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 15 // Gary Archer, Ryan, & DJ Amen @ Toons Nightclub (San Jose, CA) 16 // Goldtoes @ KMEL’s streetlow car show (Monterey, CA) 17 // Sean G @ The Aladdin for Thizz Party (Las Vegas, NV) 18 // Gizmo & Squeez @ KMEL’s streetlow car show (Monterey, CA) 19 // Hyphy Chris @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 20 // T-Mo & Unknown 15 @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 21 // Stretch @ Toons Nightclub (San Jose, CA) 22 // J Stalin, Habitt & friends @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 23 // Sleep Dank @ Thizz Picnic (Vallejo, CA) 24 // Stackman & Squeez @ KMEL’s streetlow car show (Monterey, CA) 25 // Angel of Wild 94.9 @ Club Raw (San Jose, CA) 26 // DJ Jam-X & Monie Love (Los Angeles, CA) 27 // Mag- nolia Chop & Big Dante @ Club 17 (Oakland, CA) 28 // Little Bruce @ his photo shoot (Vallejo, CA) 29 // Pretty Black & Shawnna @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA) 30 // St John @ Hot Import Nights (San Ma- teo, CA) 31 // Numskull @ KMEL’s streetlow car show (Monterey, CA) 32 // Tone @ KMEL’s street- low car show (Monterey, CA) 33 // Montana & Joe @ All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 34 // Lil Al & crew @ Booker’s (East Oakland, CA) 35 // Tito B & Bugsy @ KMEL’s streetlow car show (Monterey, CA) 36 // Furious @ Hot Import Nights (San Mateo, CA) 37 // Gary Archer & Lil Corner @ KMEL’s streetlow car show (Monterey, CA) 38 // Unk @ Youth UpRising (Oakland, CA)

Photo Credits: All photos by D-Ray except #12 & 26 by DJ Jam-X

OZONE WEST // 11 12 // OZONE WEST WORDS BY Regi Mentle’ // PHOTO BY KING BIZZY know you had a lot of attention come your way due to some drama that took place on the set of a Spider Loc video in Cedar Block hood. To keep it all the way real and one hunned, Game introduced me to Spider aI few years back as a friend of his. When him and Spider clashed for whatever reason I made sure Spider knew I had my brothers back 100% and from there lines were drawn. Fast forward - The Game goes Glendale on me and my day one niggas who were his backbone, and Fase100 is left to figure it out or start from scratch, so to speak. The Ain’t No Game DVD tells that story in full, so cop that.

One of my day one niggas named G-Ride lost his Father and was left with the burden of putting his dad to rest. The Game didn’t come to his rescue in a time of need but Spider of all people heard about it and came to Brazil Street solo and dropped a donation on him. Were good from that point. Fast forward - Spi- der asked me to get flamed up in all red to be in his video. I thought it would be a good look so I agreed. The shoot went good and just before it wrapped up, this guy from my hood shows up on the corner loud talkin on his phone. As Spider backed off the block nothing was said to him. The guy came up right af- ter Spider left, trying to tell me who I could and couldn’t have on my street. As soon as he got close enough he took a swing and connected, all to my surprise. I got up and thought about retaliation in the worst way but I kept my sanity and shook it off. Dude’s life was in no way worth mine so I let him live. Then a day later I found out it was all on tape and aired on YouTube. Wow!

It’s been said that the whole Game/Fase situation has really torn your neigh- borhood apart. Some could guess that the root of all that funk is money. Obvi- ously there is more to that, but do you wish you could rewind time and give up the spotlight to have the hood the same as it used to be? Are the opportunities that have become available worth it in the grand scheme of things? I accept whatever God puts in front of me, man. Everything is written, so I’m just livin’ it. That dude on YouTube and the other ones that run behind my lil’ brother need they ass whooped. They don’t know him at all, they just know it’s possibly a couple hunned dollars to make, if that, standin’ around lookin’ tough. Me and Mr. YouTube had a few arguments about how he suckin’ my lil’ brother dick before the one that the internet world saw. Old ass loser ain’t no go getta. They been hatin on Fase in the hood just for being a man! I take it and smile.

What is the history of Cedar Block? You have two Piru neighborhoods right by you that we hear a lot about: Fruit Town and Tree Top, but not much about the Cedars. Fruit Town is a hood that has always been big in numbers because it’s a big neighborhood land-wise. And Tree Top got its popularity with DJ Quik just as Cedar Block did with The Game and BigFase100. But Cedar Block was always here just like the rest of ’em. Started by OGs like Gangsta Blood, Big Hen, McKinley, LP & Mad Man Rodney, Cedar Block didn’t allow walk ons, you had to really be from this hood. I was ground rooted from the time my grandpa arrived in the 50s; been here since birth.

Growing up in Compton, did you feel like you were in a world of your own seperated from Inglewood, Watts, South Central, Gardena, Long Beach, etc? A lot of outsiders don’t understand that these are all separate areas and like to just consider it Los Angeles. Did you stick to your block or were you all over growing up? I’m a Compton nigga, dawg, through and through. I stayed in my own circle mostly but I’m proud of the fact that I was part of that era where niggas could kick it in other Piru/Blood hoods with no drama. Them was the days. Now it’s any and everybody’s a killer.

What do you think of the gangbanging craze that has stretched to cities on the East Coast? It seems like a lot of people think that a rapper from L.A. fucking with a rapper from N.Y. who is involved with gang shit over there means they are cosigning that shit. It’s flattering but young dudes out here don’t even know the code or the rules anymore so I don’t think they got the right understanding in other states. It’s all twisted up now anyway, its just self-segregation now and maybe has always been.

Anything you’d like to say about the future of Brazil Street Records? Grab that DVD when it drops! Ain’t No Game. Brazil Street Records baby, I’m sit- tin’ on a gold mine. My young Compton duo The Lost Soulz got next! Then my lil’ sis B Fly, That Bitch! I’m going to stay grindin’ so keep hatin’, it’s fuel! //

OZONE WEST // 13 PARTS & LABOR PHOENIX, AZ

here is a big difference between a local rapper and a global em- cee. While the local dawg just hangs on street corners like plaque on bad teeth, the global cat is a performer with career ambitions debut and let every mu’fucka know how hot the streets are in Phoenix, seekingT worldwide recognition. There is purpose in his presence, issues AZ. But label head The Game, fresh off the five-time-plat success of his on his mind, seven-figure contracts seeking his signature. Juice is an now classic The Documentary, and just prior to the release of the now emcee. No doubt. And as they say on his West side of things – don’t get platinum Doctor’s Advocate that twisted or misconstrued, my dude. “I’m the heir to The Black Wall a classic Hip Hop album – time., had “The a clearer way that idea the of whatindustry it takes is right to craftnow, dynasty. And I had to earn it. It wasn’t given to me,” Juice says, point you can’t drop and just do a million units. Computer piracy and the lack blank aiming his discussion. “So stay tuned. Don’t miss it. We in business of excellence in music are the primary reasons for that,” Juice theorizes. over here.” “Game was like, ‘You got the ability and the intelligence, now just take your time and put a classic together’,” Juice remembers. “And I had to Just recently returning from Europe and later Canada on a promotional respect that. We’re here to put together classics. There’s no rush.” tour with the homie Game, Juice – knowing he had the national fan support and respect from the hood – turned his focus to expanding The If you have yet to hear Juice spit over a J.R. Rotem track, you’re missing Wall’s gangsta rap brand across the globe. “Being that new breath off one of the great pure UpRisings in modern Hip Hop. Rotem’s classical the West Coast and having full support of my label, it’s just a good situ- clarity with the piano rides shotgun beside Juice’s driven lyricism. And ation and I’m making a lot of noise around the world,” Juice says, taking to hear Juice and Game exchange cue stick stock on Wall Street’s Black a break from his paperchase route to chop it up with a pen pusher. “I’m market is reminiscent of Ren and Cube shooting pool on a Dre track. But bringing the original West Coast back. That true music. That original to understand the truth Juice spits from the booth, you must first under gangsta.” stand the soldier story young homie was raised in. Juice’s father served 22 years in the military, active duty, so urban warfare atop these industry- Juice signed with Black Wall Street in 2006, a year in which only a hand- battlefields is nothing new. Battle blood streams through his veins, stays ful of Hip Hop acts hung platinum plaques in their billiard rooms. Upon on his mind, flows in his raps, hangs on the industries Blackest Wall. his arrival to the Interscope-distributed BWS, Juice was eager to drop his J.U.I.C.E. – Just Understand I Could Explode. At any minute, my dude. //

Words by Tone Swep

14 // OZONE WEST San Diego, CA GUNS AND BUTTER

udden fame can be daunting, but if you are already a legend in your hood and its surrounding area and your name is Mitchy Slick (whose hood status is backed by an entire state), fame can be a good thing. S“The only one who done it big in San Diego is Jayo Felony. He got a major deal and put out a hit record. Other than that we have not seen the fruits from Hip Hop,” Mitchy says. “We always have been overshadowed. If you look at the map we are at the border tucked away in the corner. But all that is about to change. I’m about to carry the state on my back.”

Most individuals and football enthusiasts know San Diego as the home state for Heisman trophy winners Reggie Bush, Marcus Allen and Rashan Sallam. But, on the southeast side, things are a whole lot different. Just ask Mitchy Slick. Raised in the gangland of southeast San Diego, where crime and despair runs - rampant, Mitchy Slick’s life mirrored that of his peers who succumbed to their environment – one where you either slang or gangbang. Mitchy’s options, how ever minimal, were available. It was just a matter of seeing them.

“I watched my big homie LT start Bottom Up Records and it made me realize that opportunities existed outside of the gang life,” he recalls. “So I began to get it cracking with my comrade Damu, who was already rhyming at the time.”

After putting together a demo Mitchy was in the heart of Los Angeles a week later mingling with West Coast legends like Snoop, Dre and DJ Quik and his record became a mainstay on local radio- Z90 and 98.9 FM. It wasn’t long before inter est grew and everyone from Xzibit to Dub C was honoring him with praises and features.

“In 2000, I put out my own album with Romey - Rome. I did 50,000 in the streets, E-40 and Yuk mouth was features and the rest was homies. We smashed the streets and that is where my credibility came in as far as the rap game,” he tells. “My music is straight gangster. It’s to the point that the Gang Suppression Unit is listen- ing to it to determine what is going on in the streets and to keep tabs on me.”

Braving the rough streets and appearing on a slew of mixtapes and consistent albums, it was no surprise when he hooked up with Xzibit to join the super group Strong Arm Steady. Mitchy later signed to DJ Muggs’ Angeles Records to release his independent solo efforts in conjunction with his label Tha Wrong Kind Records. , Mitchy Slick On Urban Survival Syndrome speaks on the money-fueled lifestyle in a seductive way. But as gratifying as it may sound, the glorious lifestyle is full of pitfalls with jail sentence and death, which he explains in vivid details with his reality-based raps. //

Words by Raheim Shabazz

OZONE WESTWEST // 15 SOUTHSIDE CONNECT cARSON, CA

or many inner city males, either you slang crack rocks or you got a wicked jump shot. When Jermone Rockett realized his crossover wouldn’t be breaking any NBA ankles, the then 16- there and did my thing. He was like ‘Nigga, you’re nice. We need to get year-oldF focused his attention on another hustle: rapping. “You know, you in the booth.’ Since then it’s been CTE.” Now, as Corporate Thugz everybody’s into sports when you’re young,” the rapper now known as Entertainment’s newest acquisition, Roccett has been paired with Roccett remembers. “After I saw that I wasn’t Jordan or Kobe, I used Inglewood, CA emcee 211 as the group Roccett & 211. to be in school, on the bench just bangin’ on the tables and putting rhymes together.” We all know Jeezy is one for thug motivation. But by pairing two artists who are members of the country’s most notorious gang rivalry In hindsight, Roccett, now 22, made the right choice when he aban- (Roccett is a Crip and 211 is a Blood), has Jeezy lost his crack-cooking doned the hardwood and picked up a microphone. After years of heavy mind? Roccett insists it’s not an issue for the new CTE duo. mixtape grinding, the Carson, CA resident’s impromptu performance caught the attention of ATL’s favorite Snowman. “[Jeezy] knew some But gang affiliations aren’t Roccett’s only questionable circumstance folks that I used to get at,” Roccett explains. “We went down to this in joining the CTE regime. He’s found himself fending against critics function he had. They had a freestyle session outside. So I went out throwing rocks due to Roccett joining a Southern label and capital izing from A-Town affiliations which include an appearance on the upcoming USDA album and a track with Atlanta’s Killer Mike entitled- “LA 2 ATL” which has caught the atten- tion of Hip Hop purists from coast to coast. “A lot of people ask me, ‘How you gonna go to the South and get a deal?’,” Roccett says. “The South got so much love for music, period. Jeezy embraced me with open arms.”

Regardless of Jeezy’s southern hospital ity, Roccett has continued to grind on - his own. His new Colors DJ Warrior has kept his namemixtape buzzing with in the streets and his face is more recog- nizable by the day as a sponsored artist for Makaveli Brand Clothing. “Jeezy’s an artist before he’s anything else, he’s got to take care of his music,” Roccett says. “Being signed to an artist, you’ve gotta be patient and wait until it’s your turn to make it do what it do. But I also know how to work too.”

When his work finally reaches the masses, Roccett hopes people will relate to his music and understand his message. “If you’re from the hood, you got dead homies, you getting up going to work, your baby mama trippin’, or maybe you’re having a good day and everything’s gravy. I done been through all of that, my nigga, so I relate to however you’re feeling,” he says. “And I’m [about] to put it on track so you can feel me, and the world can feel me.” //

Words by Randy Roper

16 // OZONE WEST DJ STRONG

hat does the union of DJ Strong and DJ Warrior mean to the West The more that you wear this CEO hat do you step further away from DJing or Coast? does your creative energy still call you? Well, we came together around 2001 and formed Cali Untouchables, I’ve been going in that direction more. Right now I’m just trying to find the Wwhich was a collective of not just DJs, but anything that has to do with time to do a little bit of both because I’m still an artist myself. I still like to entertainment and music. It’s a collection of professional individuals, but be creative and work with [different kinds] of music. But Hip Hop West and me and him built it off our love for DJs and the mixtape hustle we saw that the business end of it is taking up a lot of my time. I’ve been wearing the CEO was untapped and that’s L.A.. There really was no West Coast mixtape scene. hat a lot and it’s cool and it feels comfortable to me. That’s what I’m good Generally if you were gonna go find mixtapes you would have gone to the at. Then we do the radio show, the Sirius Satellite Cali Untouchable Radio swapmeets or something like that and you’d find radio mixes. At the time Show and work with new artists like Tri Star. We’ve always supported artists the radio DJs were getting songs from the labels and they were getting the like Game and Omar Cruz and Glasses Malone, all the people before they got exclusives and they would go and put out there little radio jam mixes and deals. We put a lot of their singles on mixtapes before anyone. Some people shit like that. So it wasn’t like New York where it was an exclusive and they know that. A lot of people don’t. were producing and making albums basically. So we got with a bunch of art- ists (Boo Ya Tribe, Crooked I, Outlaws, Kurupt, etc.) and started getting them What’s the most memorable mixtape you’ve done? mixtape beats. So we basically started doing our own shit. We always looked Palm Trees and Gangstas. It’s the first one that Kurupt hosted, one that I out for the West Coast. We always DJ. We know how to mix and we took that really took my time with. It just kinda made itself. You can play it all the way with all our freestyles and started making concepts, Cali Untouchable Radio, through. It doesn’t get boring. 40 Glocc, Kurupt, Jayo Felony and Prodigy from the Palm Trees and Gangsters series and just started building a whole scene Mobb Deep, so I got a lotta exclusives from them. But yeah, people still hit me for the West. Keep in mind there’s never been a mixtape culture over here and up to the day about that. Now they’re more on the Lil Eazy E tapes, the Cali we did it our way. Untouchable tapes and stuff like that, but that was my best one. Eventually I wanna turn it into an album – Palm Trees and Gangstas: The Album. What brought the two of you together initially? I knew him through doing work with Stronghouse Records, which was my You moved to the Jersey for a minute before things cracked off for you. Did record company that I had. I was putting out singles of people that were that have anything to do with you wanting to DJ? around me or that I just knew. Turns out I met some underground rappers so My big influence was my brother. He was four, five years older than me. He I just started putting out vinyl singles. He was doing a record pool and at the always came home with Parliament, Funkadelic, introduced me to Too $hort, time he was trying to get me to join. I was like, “Nah, I’m cool,” but we just Run-DMC. I lived over in Australia in Sydney for a year and that’s actually started building a relationship and started running with the Cali Untouchables where I got introduced to Three 6 Mafia. It was fuckin’ crazy. The only dude and started grinding and promoting. We’ve always been real [serious] about I ever met out there was a local cat who was holding down a lot of shit. I getting our promotions out through emails, clubs, networking and knowing befriended him because he was the only guy that was listening to under- people. He’d been hollering at a lot of people in the industry more than me ground rap. Everybody else was listening to Techno. But most of my influence and I was just doing my thing starting my company. We generally have a lot came from Southern California – the gangster culture, N.W.A. – shit that I was of fans that are consumer based and they just started recognizing us. We put listening to while I was riding the bus. But I also listen to classic rock and out several hundred mixtapes a day. hard rock, Metallica and shit like that. I’m pretty diverse.

OZONE WEST // 17 Words by Wendy Day Photos by EstevanOriol.com

artoon holds a secure place in Hip Hop his- Banner was already dreaming of the tattoo he’d I look at the most recent tattoo on Paul’s forearm, tory without ever having dropped a rhyme get whenever his deal was finalized and he was on which sits just above the flag of Texas that he has or mixed a record. Cartoon is an artist — a his way to becoming a star. Cartoon was the only on the back of his hand. It’s a signature Cartoon tattooC artist, to be exact. And while he could name artist he had in mind. clown, only an exact likeness of Paul, his grill drop Eminem, 50 Cent, Fat Joe, C-Murder, Method exposed and all. “Yeah,” Paul continues, “I get Man, Redman, Slim Thug, David Banner, Paul Wall, Four years later, almost to the day, I pulled up to some, then I come back two weeks later right Nas, Pharrell, The Clipse, and many others as his the same deserted industrial area in downtown when they’re healing and I get another one, and walking canvases, he never would. That’s just not Los Angeles. There were still no markings or signs then another one...” his style. He’s the kind of guy you can share a se- on the outside of the building and although it cret with and know it’ll stay with him to the death. looked familiar, I wondered if I was in the right Cartoon has inked up more than just brave rap- A Hip Hop O.G., he’s also a walking success story. place. A door with no handle cracked open and I pers. He’s done street dudes, homies from around saw Paul Wall and Michael “5000” Watts just inside. the way, actors, rock stars, musicians and just The first time I met Cartoon was with David Banner I was in the right place. A new generation of rap- about anyone willing to wait. His schedule is in February 2003. We were in Los Angeles shopping pers has found Cartoon. five months out. But his business is founded on his deal with Steve Rifkind (SRC/Universal). When the day-to-day people who see the value of Mr shopping a deal, labels try to find out what’s Cartoon’s operation has grown since the last time Cartoon. “The artists get me these interviews,” he important to the artist and the negotiator, and I was there. He’s still in the same complex, but notes. “Nobody wants to interview me about the they try to fill those needs to build a quick bond has a much larger space next door. Paul Wall, who soccer mom I just tattooed or the stripper or the of trust and friendship that will give them ad- has been tattooed numerous times in the past by homie that works at FedEx. We tattoo muthafuck- ditional leverage to secure the deal. It’s hard for Cartoon, was there to fit him for a new grill. How ers on the street. They aren’t a platinum rapper, labels to impress me because I’m not swayed by appropriate! they are just the right dude on the street that the usual trappings: money, cars, jewelry, scantily needs to get tattooed. They might just be some- clad hoes (or in my case, half naked buff men), “Coming to Cartoon’s is an experience that you one I vibe with.” etc. But Gaby, the President of SRC, threw Banner, never forget,” Paul explained Cartoon’s value his manager, and me in a van, and took us into a while making the mold for his mouth. “I have Cartoon’s spirituality and the beautiful human barren industrial district in downtown Los Angeles. other tattoos from other artists that I had before, being that he is, is what gets the attention from The neighborhood was deserted and I briefly won- but as soon as I got the Cartoon tattoos, I was like most of the people who know him. David Banner dered if the plan was to put a gun to our heads to a member of an elite club — an elite underground told me that what made him decide to get his get us to sign the deal, because this would have organization. So when people see it they ask, tattoo was a “spiritual connection. We vibed on been the perfect surroundings for that. Much to ‘Did Cartoon do that?’ I’m like the cool kid in GOD first and he told me that I carried Mississippi our delight, we pulled up to a building next to a school with the new shoes. It’s low key - there’s on my back and I should do it literally.” So he did. Gun Club and walked through double doors with not a million people in here, so when I’m in here Banner was not a platinum rapper when Cartoon no markings of any kind on the outside. screaming and squirming, we’ll joke around about tattooed him. The Mississippi across his upper back it and laugh about what’s going on. stretching from shoulder to shoulder is also his Once inside, the walls were covered with artistic one and only tattoo. photos of tattooed clients showing off their skin. “The tattoos mean something. He makes them FOR Sitting there in what looked like a barber’s chair me. I give him an idea of what I want and then Cartoon started on the streets of L.A. and is proud was Cartoon. He was one of the people I’d been we sit around and talk and kick it. We hang out to be giving back to the community. He enjoys dying to meet. I’d seen his work for years on and discuss it and then he makes suggestions like, speaking to young people and feels the biggest various body parts of my favorite rappers and ‘How about if we do this and then we change this problem with kids is that they don’t know what old school album covers. I had been wearing the around.’ That evolves into a piece of art on me. they want to do when they grow up. He reaches gear from his clothing line, Joker Brand, for years. It’s not a picture from a book where I said, ‘Gimme out to kids regularly because he feels sharing that Cartoon’s graffiti had even adorned the walls in that one,’ and it’s the same one that everyone else passion and his blueprint to success is important. the background of a Michael Jackson video. David has. It’s an experience!” “Money is important, because I have 4 kids to

18 // OZONE WEST support,” Cartoon shares, “but money is a way for I noticed he was wearing a gorgeous Breitling his theory by sharing some of the things that have me to implement programs for kids and to help watch and realized that people would pay big led to his success. people.” money to have a Cartoon-designed watch (hell, I would). He discussed how he will have watches “Loyalty. Don’t cut the next man’s throat over Cartoon started as an artist at 8 years old and that he designs to sell in the store he will open dough. Let people know the real. Be honest. They feels lucky to have found his life’s calling so early. down the street. His “can do” attitude is infectious. don’t teach morals and ethics in high school. But he doesn’t use ‘luck’ in the conventional sense Just the same is his focus is on the importance That’s maybe one of the benefits from being from of the word. “Labor, Using, Correct Knowledge, of keeping artistic integrity. One of his secrets to a gang. You learn that type of thinking. Paint a Yearly,” he explains his self-made motto. “Labor: success is focusing on the “artistic integrity by picture of yourself in your ultimate life—see your- busting your ass; Using: putting the work to use; keeping up the quality level and not coming off self doing it, surround yourself with winners who Correct Knowledge: learning what works in your corny. A good artist worries about selling out. think like you. If you want to get there ten times life and putting action behind it; and putting ac- Once you jeopardize your artwork, and start get- faster, don’t be smoking weed and getting high tion behind it and doing it every year consistently, ting lazy and corny and your artwork comes off as and drinking every day. That’s what they want which is Yearly.” half-assed, or once you start listening to people us to do. They want us to be half there and half who don’t know what it’s about and you start retarded and not achieve our goals. Take direction A true inspiration, Cartoon has a clothing com- tailoring it to them, that’s selling out.” from older people. Don’t waste time judging and pany, a film deal and a shoe deal with Nike. He hating on others, critiquing everything you see also designed a limited edition T-Mobile sidekick, Selling out means losing authenticity and fans on TV. Go out there and do something. You can has a major motion picture coming about his life, ultimately. Cartoon explains how he designed a sit there all day and talk shit about rappers but a retail store coming soon and a graphic novel limited edition T-Mobile Sidekick (a six-figure what have you done this week? What have you that will be in stores soon. But he didn’t start out deal) without losing his integrity. “I did work on accomplished? People critique so much that they saying he wanted to do licensing deals. He started a cell phone, a Sidekick that is so hardcore in aren’t getting anything done. Do you have a skill? by drawing stick figures on paper at 8 years old terms of the imagery that it’s never been seen on Are you needed? If I lose everything, I can go back with parents who supported him by telling him he something that big.” They only made 13,000 of to painting store windows because I have a skill. had talent and could be anything he wanted to be. them, but he kept control of what artwork would If you are dope, you’ll get there.” be on the sidekick. He kept the meaning of the “When I was younger, I thought my street life was design personal: “an Aztec pyramid to symbol- Cartoon’s interest was the business side of tat- payback for my talent,” he tells. “I felt I had to ize my heritage, a Low Rider, a home boy with a tooing, not just the artistic side. He realized that suffer to pay for this gift I had.” And suffer he did, Pendleton brim hat, a chainlink fence to represent he was building a brand, not just inking skin. He’s embracing drugs and street life before he got back the fence around our city that keep homeboys changing the perception that tattoo artists are not on track. from never traveling out of the neighborhood.” business minded. He’s also changing the percep- That’s authentic. tion that tattooing is not a valuable art form. He At the age of 12, Cartoon got paid for his first art locked down a three picture deal with Brian Glazer job, lettering on store windows. At 16, he started At this stage Cartoon realizes he has to be careful (8 Mile, Davinci Code, Beautiful Mind) because he air brushing t-shirts at Swap Meets. By the time about which opportunities he accepts. “They’ll felt they excel at telling personal stories. he was 18, he felt he was getting a lot better throw checks at you all the time,” he shares. “I as an artist and started going to car shows and want to do deals with the best of the best, like He worked on this process three years. His idea airbrushing cars. Nike. I look at the next 10 years and what I want started years ago as an idea for a documentary to do. I gotta do it the right way. I gotta put the about tattooing and grew into his life story at He did Kid Frost’s album cover in 1990 or 1991, right quality out there. I could have 4 shops out Imagine Films. He says it won’t be “a Mexican and he got to see a giant billboard of his work there: a shop in NY, Miami, Frisco, and LA - Hous- 8 Mile, though.” For three years he had doors with the album cover on Sunset Blvd. This led to ton if I wanted to, with neon and pictures of all slammed in his face about making the movie, until more business from record labels and television the rappers on the wall and 2 for 1 specials, put a Brian Glazer saw the vision. “It’s about my life in studios. This constant reinforcement showed him stripper pole in there and I might get a check off my early 20s, but it’s really about my family and he was on the right career track, but success of that. But my thing is that when fools see the my team. I say ‘I’ in my interviews, but it’s really was hard for him because he felt like his friends artwork there’s a buzz about it. They know how ‘we.’ It’s about my life which involves everyone.” would look at him differently and that he might hard it is to go to get an appointment. There’s a have to become shrewd and evil to be success- one on one - I’m building with customers one on With a graphic novel about to drop through Time ful in business. He began to blow opportunities one about what the artwork is gonna be. It’s a Warner books, Cartoon says “it’ll be hard to fol- because of his negative mental associations with slow process. The business comes down to origi- low the company’s last release, Sin City, but I’m money. Finally, he was able to resolve the issue by nality. We get so much support from the streets. looking forward to getting our story out there.” realizing how much good he could do with money. We keep doing what we are doing and eventually It’s the story of a young Japanese kid who comes He realized that money was not evil and he had they’ll get it.” Eventually the corporations do get to America because he’s in love with our culture, the choice to be righteous and fair, regardless of it and the fortunate ones get to do the Cartoon but he witnesses a murder and his dream kinda the money. deals. Right now, that limited edition Mr Cartoon- becomes a nightmare. Cartoon also has an action designed Sidekick, which is no longer available figure coming that was replicated from one of his Cartoon’s vision is incredible. When sharing his through T-Mobile, sells on eBay for upwards of tattoo characters. It’s a collector’s item. ideas he makes it a point to say “I will,” instead of $300, new in the box. “I’d like to.” It’s the difference between him just As I am leaving his tattoo shop, I can’t help but being a dreamer and putting things into action. He Cartoon came up in an era of Hip Hop when “keep think to myself that everything Cartoon creates is expects to make things happen instead of hoping it real” actually meant something. He doesn’t take a collector’s item, especially those unique stylized that they will. For example, when I asked if, at 37 ideas from anyone else no matter how hot they Cartoon tattoos. Unique to each collector, whether years old, he’s training the next Cartoon, he talks are and focuses on what means something to him. a soccer mom or a huge international Superstar. // about starting a university eventually, where he He has evolved from an artist into a business man. will teach the lost art of pin striping and airbrush- He feels the business comes down to originality To hear pieces of the actual Cartoon interview, go ing cars. and not biting other people’s shit. He expands on to www.22LBS.com or www.ozonemag.com

OZONE WEST // 19 ime flies. A little over fifteen years ago DJ Quik and AMG were young- sters in a genre that was growing before their very eyes. Fourteen albums later, between them, they’ve amassed production and album creditsT that have come to define them as both artists and men. Fittingly, they’ve found good reason to reunite for the world to see and more impor- tantly, hear. In so doing, their indigenous connection has found its way right back into not only the West Coast Hip Hop panorama, but the industry as a whole. In the midst of serving five months in jail for a heavily publicized family dispute with his sister (where he allegedly brandished a weapon and assaulted her), Quik’s partner in rhyme came to the rescue. His brainchild was a welcome one and has since grown into a label that the two claim with a renewed sense of energy.

As the Fixxers, which is also the name of their new label, Quik and AMG are expectedly making noise. Their lead single, “Can You Werk Wit Dat?” is in heavy rotation on the West Coast and is gaining momentum across the coun- try, which is intentional. Says Quik, who’s permanently dropped the “DJ” from his name, “It’s not like it’s just a West Coast record, cause who can really define what the West Coast sound is outside of just categorizing it as some common gangster shit or some angry shit? We doin’ some other shit.”

So don’t expect a “Quik’s Groove X,” because as AMG eloquently puts it, “This is a Fixxers album.” In that, the funk era that Quik all but perfected, is over – at least for The Fixxers. What you can expect is the same camaraderie that produced hits like “Bitch Better Have My Money,” “The Vertical Joyride” and classic albums like Quik Is The Name and Give A Dog A Bone.

Fuck what you heard. This is The Midnight Life.

This project is a welcome surprise. You’ve both been busy over the years and obviously haven’t lost that magic touch. How did the Fixxers come about? AMG: Well, it’s a new concept and it’s a new idea. We’ve always worked to- gether. It’s not a big deal. But just to do something else [was fun]. It woulda been whack to call it Quik and AMG. It’s a concept that we’re branding. Quik: I had to go sit down, man. I had to really rethink everything, because I got to a point where it really just wasn’t fun. Wasn’t nuthin’ fun, like, “What kinda shit is this?” Well, we’re musicians and we’ve had some success and now I get into family fights and shit and end up in jail. Something had to change. So I started talkin’ to G when I was locked up and my nigga had some ideas and I’m listening. I’m like, “That’s a good idea… that’s a great idea,” and when I got out we just sat down. Then we looked at the state of us. Fuck Hip Hop for a minute. I hate answering that question. We looked at the state of where we are and just tried to make sense of it.

When you say the state of you two do you mean you as artists or the West Coast? Quik: Well, as friends. We were friends before we were this. We were just trying to make sense of where we stand and how relevant we are to the business or if we’re even relevant. Quik: (To AMG) Last night I was fuckin’ it up, G. Did you hear me last So is this album about proving that relevancy? night on vinyl nigga, playin’ King T bass and cut that shit up perfectly? Quik: We know where we are with that. This record is more about doing I thought I was DJ Joe Cooley last night. I might pick it back up. I might something new and fun for our coast, for this side here, for everybody. It’s put DJ back in my name… Real talk though, I been watchin’ these young- not like it’s just a West Coast record, cause who can really define what the sters just clown like, “Wow, I can’t do that shit.” So why even disrespect West Coast sound is outside of just categorizing it as some common gangster the title, cause DJ is a title. shit or some angry shit? We doin’ some other shit. So tell me about the album. People talk about the West Coast and say it was dead before the Hyphy Quik: It’s a concept album. It’s kinda different. It’s a different direction movement and it seems to be losing some steam. Does the name the Fixxers for me. We strayin’ away from the big deep musician shit… the funk, have anything to do with keeping the West Coast afloat? cause funk is passé and boring to death now. That era has seen its AMG: You can make it into what you want to, but the underlying concept is, it heyday and it’s a wrap for that. You gotta give people what they want was a jazzy name when we came up with it. When we started building more and we’ve been striking a chord lately because five year olds dance to into it we came up with some concepts, but not building the West, cause we our music as well as fifty year olds. That’s where we kinda wanna stay. didn’t build it single-handedly anyway. We tryna get mu’fuckin’ money. We It’s more marketable now. It’s not so underground and so misogynistic gon’ fix our pockets. and hateful and diss driven. It’s more community driven. It’s more social. We’re socializing and having fun. We got gangsters in there rockin’ their Do you buy into the concept that the West Coast is dead or was dead before colors no matter what color it is and that’s just something you don’t get the Hyphy movement? anymore. AMG: Ah nah. It’s not dead. It’s just takin’ a break. It’s ten years. Everybody got there ten year run. Our shit just expanded into everybody else’s shit. Given that The Midnight Life is about you all putting your sound out Nobody tryna rap like Run and shit. Nobody tryna rap like Nas. They tryna there, I know there aren’t any other producers to speak of, but what rap like us and make a record like us. U gotta remember, we from ’91. Niggas about collaborations? Did you reach beyond the West Coast? didn’t even cuss back then til we started cussin’. AMG: It’s gon’ be a few. We don’t really have anything set in stone right Quik: Biggie? That shit was all West Coast. That shit was all gangsta rap. That now, but there’s a few guys we’ve been workin’ with. Yung Joc, Rick Ross, shit was all West Coast and they never denied it. Jim Jones and Tierra Marie. //

Quik, why’d you drop the DJ from your name? Words by N. Ali Early

20 // OZONE WEST Everybody got their ten year “run. Our shit just expanded into everybody else’s

shit. Nobody

tryna rap like Run and shit. Nobody tryna rap like “ Nas. They tryna rap like us and make a record like us.

OZONE WEST // 21 town bizness

TOOarly $HORT E by N. Ali Words by D-Ray Photos

Sometime during the height of Freaknik’s success, Too $hort admitted to being turned out by the city of Atlanta. Shortly thereaf- ter he made it official and bolted from the Town in favor of Southern Hospitality. Now, find out why Shorty the Pimp felt the need to restore order in the beloved Bay.

22 // OZONE WEST You definitely have more of a presence in the Bay than in years past, and Would you say “hyphy” is dead or alive? you’re kinda back and forth between there and Atlanta. Why do you feel it’s I think that the word doesn’t mean much to people out here. It does not necessary to be home more now? define what’s going on. If you say that to the wrong lil youngsters you might I just went back to record some music. They need a little guidance so I went get a sour reaction. If you ask them if they “go hyphy” they might laugh. It’s back to help. not like anybody is on the daily coming to the table talking about how we gotta preserve “hyphy.” It’s actually just a way of life. It might have a new A lot of people talk about how the hyphy movement has led so many name by the time the summer comes around. They might get tired of that youngsters astray. Is you going back as much about the music as it is the word and come up with something else. But when you step back and look community, or do the two work in hand from where you stand? at it it’s still the same thing. It looks identical to the same things that we Well, you know, it’s always been the independent thing goin’ on where a lot was doin’ when I was a youngster but it’s just new and improved. It’s just a of folks wanna put a project together and put it out independent and try different style. It’s the same behavior. We did the cars. We stood around the to sell 50,000 copies. A handful of groups got signed by major labels from intersection and had a party in the parking lot somewhere. We did all that out here last year. That got the morale up a little bit as far as gettin’ on the stuff. All they doin’ is doin’ what they supposed to do and they doin’ it they national arena. Everybody’s content with the local success and the regional own way and now they got a soundtrack to go with it. Back in the day you success, but we still watch TV and they wanna be in the big leagues. So that’s had Richie Rich, Too $hort and some E-40. Now they got Keak Da Sneak and what’s goin’ on. You got some folks that recognize that if all these millions Mistah FAB. They just a little more hyper. of people on this end of the world love what’s comin’ from the Bay… if they could just get it on a national arena, a lot more people might like it. So that’s Are you droppin’ another album? the struggle right now. I just got out of the studio and it should be mixed and mastered by next week. I’m releasing a farewell album with Jive. No more albums with them. From day one, the opportunities were never there for us as Bay artists to be We outta there. The relationship is over. It’s not going to be a whole album on MTV and BET. It was never really there for me or E-40. We slipped through – just like ten songs – something to commemorate the fact that I’ve been the cracks every now and then, but as far as the majority of the Bay Area on Jive for twenty years. Fourteen albums with Jive and it’s the end of the music scene, we had huge success. We sold a lot of records and made a lot of relationship. Also on my Up All Nite label I’m releasing two compilations and money, but BET and MTV would never ever check for an artist here that does probably whoever gets the nod, whoever gets the hot song first is the first the same thing as an artist from another area. If another artist from another group to go. I got like three groups with albums ready to go. And of course area was doin’ it year in and year out the labels would rush to sign them, but The Pack is coming out on Jive. I got them a deal on Jive and they’re part of it just doesn’t happen here. the Up All Nite crew.

Why has that always been the case? Is it because the Bay has always stood on So it’s The Pack and two other groups? its own and maintained that independent mindset? I got three groups in the cut on the independent side. They don’t have major Yeah, because we really don’t pursue the deals and then if you got somebody deals. I’m just cultivating them right now. They got a little momentum but who makes a hundred, two, three hundred thousand a year independently it’s about whoever got that hot single. We got the albums ready to go, but and you come and tell them, “Man I’ll sign you. I’ll give you $100,000 to sign nowadays you can’t just be like, “I’m puttin’ and you get 10% off all your stuff,” the you out next. You next, you after them…” You answer is “No.” Once you get the person in gotta time it with a hot record and if your a position to earn a deal and you run the - record ain’t in rotation right now, you just numbers to them and what you’re offering, ain’t ready yet. You get that weight up and it’s an insult. “From day one, the opget a record crackin’. In the meantime rap everywhere you can rap. Do any verse you Everybody readily acknowledges you as portunities were nevercan do on anybody’s stuff you can, mixtapes. the godfather of the Bay and you’ve seen Be active. If you can’t shine in your own spot everything transcend from two or three there for us as Bay artists.right now, what makes you think you’re go- generations before you. Now, this generation ing to shine anywhere else in the world? It’s seems to have everybody up in arms. Do you We sold a lot of recordswhoever got that hustle; whoever got that see it that way or is the Bay the same as it’s spark. What I’m doing in the Bay right now always been? and made a lot of money,is the same thing that I’m doing in Atlanta. The youngsters right now, the 25 and under In Atlanta I had been on a whole different generation is wilder right now in every city but BET and MTV wouldagenda the whole time I had been there. than any generation at that age. They grew I wasn’t really tryna find somebody with up with the TV violence, the movie violence, never ever check for anthe hot hand and help them get on. I was the street violence and the music is violent, so more or less working with artists who it’s just a different world. Just imagine being a artist here that does thewere up and coming and getting them in little kid and you grow up around crack and you the studio and get them on their way. But live in the hood. People in your house on crack. same thing as an artistnow, I’m just tryna see who is the hottest It’s just a different pace in the streets as far as artist and who needs some help. I’m not the tolerance level of just “violating my space” from another area.” really into artist development anymore. I or whatever. It ain’t about fightin’ no more and I wasn’t really too good at that. My good natured heart makes me good at art- just feel like the combination of how bad it is with all the killin’. There’s so ist development, but as for the skill that it takes to develop an artist, it’s not many teenagers gettin’ killed, high school kids killin’ each other for real. Add my forte. I’d prefer to just take super talented people and give them a couple that in with the music and the music is being made by a lot of youngsters, but steps and help them elevate their game. a lot of the artists that the kids are into are in their 20’s. At the same time, the kids are the ones that are driving the sound and that’s what’s inspiring What was it about The Pack that brought y’all together and made things stick? the artists to make the music that they’re making. So it’s still all about the Over the years I’ve seen all the people who I knew who were talented and youngsters any way you look at it. It’s the whole lil movement. It’s not just all the people that I helped out, knowing that they were talented producers, the hyphy and the “shake ya dreads” stuff. They do the turf dancin’ and it’s singers, musicians and actually knowing that the few that rose to the top, a whole bunch of different [sides] to what they’re callin’ “The Movement.” they had a quality about them. It wasn’t a certain rhyme skill, or a look or It’s not just “hyphy, get dumb, go stupid.” It’s a bunch of stuff out here. We any kind of sound. Sometimes you just get a package and you just know it got a car culture and that’s very much a part of it. And it has a lot to do with will fit. Like, “Damn, this is what people will like.” It’s like them Aunt Jemima the swagger. Everybody says I got the game. I’m laced with the game. I’m pancakes. You just add water. You ain’t gotta add the eggs and the oil and all not just like no lil thug. I actually know the game. It’s a lot of little things that stuff. You just add water and it’s perfect. So I tend to favor those types that add to the Bay Area swagger and to make a long story short, I’m here of situations over the years and I look back and say, “Who did I enjoy dealing to kinda deaden the whole idea that a youngster has no choice, like, “I have with the best?” And that goes for musicians, singers and people I just found to be a gangsta. I have to do this killin’ or stealin’ or whatever.” I’m just trying to get in it and they ended up having nice careers. sayin’, “Look at this right here; this music thing. As many of y’all that jump into this, you have an opportunity to make some real money.” I ain’t talkin’ Who all you workin’ with on your album? about savin’ you from the street or sayin’ what a preacher or a counselor or I’m actually debuting the Up All Nite crew. It’s not about name brand produc- somebody would say. I’m just like, let’s make some music and you can make ers. I might get one single, cause it’s prolly going to be a one single album. some money. The guys that I got on the list of giving me that one single are Lil Jon, Jazze

OZONE WEST // 23 Pha and maybe Polow da Don – one of those three. Outside of that everything He soon will be if I keep seein’ him do his thing and if he needs some help. is in house. I wanna put me together a whole lil click of people that I work It’s about three cats out here that I would love to work with but I can’t jump with in Atlanta and people that I work with in the Bay and I just fly back and the gun. I don’t wanna tell you, “You down with me,” and then I got a whole forth. I hate to predict the future and tell people what I’m about to do, but full schedule and I can’t handle you. But he’s definitely one of the ones who we got a lotta music in the can. It’s a lotta activity jumpin’ off on the Internet I know has that “it.” I’m down widit. He was just on stage with us the other and different ways to sell music as far as iTunes and ringtones and stuff. It’s night in Vegas. a lot more beneficial these days to be independent because it’s so much less stressful in the digital world. So I’m bringing my futuristic life to the surface. Who are the other artists in the Up All Nite crew? We goin’ digital all the way. I’m working with the Hoodstarz right now. They got a major movement goin’ on in the Bay. I got another guy named Dolla Will. But the Hoodstarz, they Are you enjoying the idea of managing the label, so to speak, as opposed to from East Palo Alto. They got that good momentum and they were major being an artist at this point? candidates out here for just needing a little push in the right direction. I I mean, dawg, realistically man, I’ve long overstayed my welcome as an been takin’ them way outta town, like way outta their market, just throwin’ artist. I’m just still doin’ it cause they keep lettin’ me do it. It’s not like it’s a em on stage and they battin’ a thousand no matter what crowd they step to. necessity. I love doin’ it. I’ve had so much success and the whole world said, No matter if they ever heard of ‘em or if they never heard any of their songs, “WHY??” Radio stations and magazines like, “Why did he do another one?” Too they got about a fifteen minute show that’ll rock any crowd. $hort fans like, “Oh my God, he finally lost it,” I’d take the criticism like, “Well you know I had to hit a brick one day.” But I’ve survived something that I So who do you see being the face of the Bay? Who’s that dude right now? know recording artists can’t survive. I survived a label that put out a string I mean definitely, if you wanna see who got the weight out here, it’s undeni- of albums without promoting. I survived that shit. I worked year round and able that Short Dog and E-40 are the OGs. But if you talkin’ bout who’s the everything’s cool, man. I don’t know how an artist could survive five albums heavyweight out here on the scene, it’s Keak and FAB. FAB likes to get around without a single, without ads, without a video and he still got the whole and make sure that the Bay gets represented. He’s tryna be the face of the world goin’ on. Bay. Keak Da Sneak, he got his lil lovely world. He gettin’ his money on, but he not really tryna truly be the face of it. He more into the streets. He’s like Is there a similar feeling in your gut with respect to the first time you “an- the street favorite. Then it’s a whole bunch of cats that’s right there with nounced” your retirement? them that’s the supporting cast. You got the Hoodstarz. You got the new kids Well, I can say now that there was never an intention for retirement and it on the block, The Pack. You got the Team. They definitely heavyweights out was a point of me psyching myself up to where I couldn’t be a 30 something here. EA Ski and his group Frontline, they definitely stay on the radio. Young- year old rapper. As fast as we did the press release I was already negotiating stas love The Federation and Turf Talk. So it’s a whole click of ‘em out there. the paperwork to move forward with a new contract with Jive. Now that word Then you got the Messy Marvs and the San Quinns; the youngstas love them. is not even going to get entertained by me. Regardless of any rapper who ever stepped up and said, “I quit rappin’,” I don’t know anyone who ever did Speaking of youngstas, the term is a little outdated, but what do you think it. It’s Hip Hop. It’s like drugs. Not to say that that’s the only reference I could about the New Bay, considering your legacy and how you’ve ushered most, if come up with for Hip Hop, but it is very, very, very addictive. I don’t know not all of the talent that you just mentioned? anybody of any age who actually retired the microphone. Everybody who said I think it’s something that needed to be said to distinguish a change. It’s not it has already made an album since they said it. like it really picked up like it was picked as a movement. I mean, I use it. I say it. It’s the uptempo, the hyphy sound, the go stupid, turf dancin’… That’s the You endorsed J Stalin’ on the intro of a recent mixtape. Is he in your camp? new thing. The dreads. It’s the New Bay. It’s lovely. //

The Pack, signed to Too $hort’s label Up All Nite/Jive Records

24 // OZONE WEST /Koch Records was released at Tha Dogg Pound/DoggDogg Chit Food Because their classic debut the height of Death Row’s success and a West Coast run of Bishop Lamont/DJ Skee Presents Nigger Noize supremacy that has yet to be duplicated, Kurupt and Daz (Daz In relative newcomer fashion Bishop Lamont’s rise in Dr. Dre’s and Kurupt), will always be obligated to prove themselves camp has come fast and furious. Whether the “fued” between over with subsequent albums. This, their fourth (officially), is The game and one Andre Young has sparked an ongoing a revival of sorts, packaging reminiscent of yesteryear and music to match. “Anybody Killa,” featuring The Game and courtship with Bishop Lamont remains to is be the seen. perfect But whatintro - is visible, though, is the fact that this rapper/producer is “Mo Murder” dip into Death Row’s patented formula circa DJ Skee Presents Nigger Noize talented. ‘96, conjuring memories. The Doggfather of “Murder checks Was the in Case”on the and summer even Niggaz4Life duction as Lamont covers an array of subjects in a way that N.W.A.’s – N. Ali Early Aftermath hasn’t quite seen yet. “Klansmen” addresses the friendly “Vibe” and while there’s no “Bomb Azz Pussy” pt. II, obvious hate that “niggas” have for each other and “Nigger” the frantic “Pull Ya Drawz Down” “suggests” a job well done. adopts a similar tone ultimately coated in self “love.” However defiant and demanding he is at times, Lamont manages a Skateboards 2 Scrapers/jive healthy balance (“Bitches on Myspace,” “Don’t Kill Me,” “Super The Pack/ Freak”), successfully setting the stage for his official debut. – N. Ali Early With “Vans” and “I’m Shinin’” the only exceptions, The Pack’s debut EP is a the result of bad rhymes and raging hormones /Tommy Boy where “Ride My Bike,” “Candy,” “Oh Go,” and “Freaky Bopper” 2XL/Neighborhood Rapstar are all attempts to freak the ladies. Just like typical teenag- With a look that resembles the Jacksons (post disco era) more ers, the youngsters from the Bay spit subpar rhymes focused on girls, ice and sneakers (well, Vans). Hopefully The Pack than Bone Thugs, it’s easy to see why brothers Laze and Royal, collectively known as 2XL, are considered “boy band teen can show more depthlength and LP dropsbetter later rhyme this skills year. when — Randy their Roper full- heartthrobs.” On the surface nothing about them says ‘hood’ or ‘ghetto’ or ‘hard.’ And nothing needs to. As evidenced by the Southern influenced “Rock On,” these kids party with a Early Morning Shift- purpose. While Bay Area legends lend a helping hand on “Kitty J Stalin & Demolition Men/ Kat” and “The Hustler’s Gone,” more telling sequences of their Neigh- Once again the Demolition do what they do best as the mix lives come through on the moving “Mama of Mine,” the latter a tape duo continues to bring the West’s hottest new artists to tribute to 2XL’s mother who was diagnosed with brain cancer the forefront. This time West Oakland’s J Stalin struts his Bay in 1996. While they may be from Hollywood, California is a moving testament that says 2XL has yet Area stuff through 29 tracks that range from a freestyle over borhood Rapstar Young Jeey’s “Diamonds” to holding his own with West Coast to buy into the hype. How gangsta is that? – N. Ali Early newcomers Balance, Big Rich, Mistah FAB and Clyde Carson. Stalin spits flows without goingBay retarded properly. and — Randystill reps Roper the

OZONE WEST // 25 end zone

Location: Oakland, CA Venue: 2232 MLK Event: Oakland vs. Memphis dance battle Date: March 11th, 2007

Photo: D-Ray

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