WELCOME TO MIAMI

G FEATURIN DJ KHALED WE THE BEST

MEMORIAL J CASH // KEEM KONG UNCLE LUKE // JAGGED EDGE+ DAY 2011 GUYANA // BRISCO // MAYDAY BALLGREEZY // ACE HOOD edition** **special FAMOUS KID BRICK // SUPA MIKE BLESS & MORE WELCOME TO MIAMI

MEMORIAL DAY 2011 edition** **special

G FEATURIN J CASH SLIP N SLIDE STREETS

KEEM KONG // DJ KHALED UNCLE LUKE // JAGGED EDGE+ GUYANA // BRISCO // MAYDAY BALLGREEZY // ACE HOOD FAMOUS KID BRICK // SUPA MIKE BLESS & MORE WELCOME TO MIAMI

MEMORIAL DAY 2011 edition** **special

ty’s POLK Coun KEEM KONG

J CASH // DJ KHALED // SUPA +UNCLE LUKE // JAGGED EDGE GUYANA // BRISCO // MAYDAY BALLGREEZY // ACE HOOD FAMOUS KID BRICK MIKE BLESS & MORE

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PUBLISHER: SIDE A Julia Beverly 10-11 MIAMI MAP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: 12 CLUB LISTING Julia Beverly 14 EVENT LISTING 18-19 BRISCO CONTRIBUTORS & CREW: 22-23 GUYANA Ashley Smith 28-29 MIKE BLESS Eric Perrin 32-33 ACE HOOD Jason Potts 36-37 H JONES Kisha Smith Mercedes Randy Roper 26-27 J CASH Stephanie Ogbogu Terrence Tyson

PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR: Malik Abdul

STREET TEAMS: SIDE b Big Mouth Marketing 10-11 BALLGREEZY Lex Promotions 18-20 JAGGED EDGE On Point Entertainment 22-23 SUPA Poe Boy 26-27 MAYDAY! Strictly Streets 30-31 PETER BAILEY 32-33 UNCLE LUKE SUBSCRIPTIONS: 36-37 FAMOUS KID BRICK To subscribe, send check or money order for $11 to: OZONE Magazine 644 Antone St. Suite 6 14-15 KEEM Atlanta, GA 30318 KONG Phone: 404-350-3887 Fax: 404-601-9523 Web: www.ozonemag.com

COVER CREDITS: J Cash and Mike Bless photos courtesy of Slip N Slide Records; DJ Khaled photo courtesy of We The Best; Ace Hood photo by Terrence Tyson; Keem Kong photo courtesy of MMB.

DISCLAIMER: OZONE does not take responsi- bility for unsolicited materials, misinformation, typographi- cal errors, or misprints. The views contained herein do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or its advertisers. Ads appearing in this magazine are not an endorsement or validation by OZONE Magazine for products or services offered. All photos and illustrations are copyrighted by their respective artists. All other content is copy- right 2011 OZONE Magazine, all rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of the pub- lisher. Printed in the USA.

OZONE MAG // 9 DOWNTOWNMAP

10 // OZONE MAG SOUTHMAP BEACH

OZONE MAG // 11 Mansion Seven 1235 Washington Ave 685 Washington Ave (305) 531-5535 (305) 538-0820 Metropolis Downtown SET 950 NE 2nd Avenue 320 Lincoln Road MIAMI (305) 531-2800 (305) 415-0088 www.setmiami.com CLUB LISTING Miami Velvet 3901 NW 77th Ave Shine 90 Degree 12953 NW 7th Ave (305) 406-1604 1800 Collins Ave. 90 NE 11th Street (305) 685-5305 (786) 425-3545 Mokai Skybar Club Escape 235 23rd St. 1901 Collins Ave Amika 7707 NW 103rd St (305) 695-0288 (305) 695-3100 1532 Washington Ave. (305) 534-1499 Club Warehouse Mynt SIN 90 NE 11th St 1921 Collins Ave. 1532 Washington Ave Angel Ultra Lounge (786) 425-3545 (786) 276-6132 (305) 532-4786 247 23rd Street Coco’s Lounge Living Nikki Beach Club Sobe Live Area 51 On The Edge 1 Ocean Drive 1203 Washington Ave 950 NE 2nd Ave 1430 NW 119th St (305) 673-1575 (305) 695-2820 (305) 358-5655 (305) 688-5005 Nocturnal Sofi Lounge B.E.D. Dream 50 NE 11th St. 423 Washington Ave 929 Washington Ave. 1532 Washington Ave (305) 576-6996 (305) 532-4444 (305) 532-9070 (305) 674-8018 Onda Space Big Fish Expose 1248 Washington Ave. 34 NE 11th St. 55 SW Miami Avenue 766 E 25th St (305) 674-4464 (305) 375-0001 (305) 691-8980 Blue Pearl Lounge Spirits 222 Espanola Way Fat Tuesday 1 Ocean Dr. 5729 Seminole Way, Hol- (305) 534-1109 3015 Grand Ave lywood, FL 33314 (305) 441-2992 Penthouse Inc (954) 327-9094 Bricks 1434 Collins Ave 66 SW 6th St Fifth (The) (305) 538-4010 State (305) 371-6950 1045 5th St 320 Lincoln Rd. (305) 538-9898 Platinum Plus Café Iguanas 7565 W 20th Ave Studio A 8358 Pines Blvd GEM Nightclub & (305) 558-2221 60 NE 11th St (954) 433-8787 Restaurant (305) 538-7625 671 Washington Ave Play Cameo (305) 674-0977 1045 Fifth St. Suite 1445 Washington Ave 1437 Washington Ave (305) 531-8225 Glass Porterhouse (305) 604-3664 432 41st St 7050 W. Palmetto Park Chakra (305) 604-9798 Rd Take One 1500 Ocean Dr 333 NE 79th Street (305) 672-2001 Harrison’s Rain 411 Washington Ave 323 23rd St Tropics Nightclub Club Ache (305) 672-4600 (305) 674-7447 7100 Pines Blvd 3425 Collins Ave (954) 985-8382 (305) 604-8688 Ivy Room Rokbar 1233 Washington Ave 1805 Collins Ave Vice Club 112 (305) 532-1525 (305) 535-7171 1445 Washington Ave 1439 Washington Ave (305) 532-2667 Jazid Rumi Club 45 1342 Washington Ave 330 Lincoln Road Vision 4545 NW 7th St (305) 673-9372 (305) 672-4353 3015 Grand Avenue (305) 442-6369 (305) 461-1118 King of Diamonds Ruby Lounge Club 66 17800 NE 5th Ave 623 Washington Ave. Voodoo Lounge 66 SW 8th Street Miami, FL 33162 111 SW 2nd Ave. (305) 371-6950 Santo (954) 522-0733 Lady Luck 430 Lincoln Rd Club Boca 1610 NW 119th St (305) 532-2882 Wet Willie’s 7000 West Palmetto (305) 688-1151 8th & Ocean Park Rd Sax on the Beach (561) 392-3747 Level Nightclub 1756 N Bayshore Dr White Diamonds 1233 Washington Ave (786) 924-5535 737 Washington Ave Club Deep (305) 532-1525 (305) 761-6736 621 Washington Ave Scores Miami (305) 532-1509 Madonna Night Club 17450 Biscayne Blvd Whyte Noise 1527 Washington Ave (305) 945-6030 300 SW 1st Ave. Club Ebony (305) 534-2000

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MIAMI Events

- YC Racks On Racks Vixens Affair @ B.E.D (929 Listing Washington Ave) Thursday, May 26th - Trey Songz Memorial Day Weekend Takeover @ Club Play (1045 Fifth St) - Slip-N-Slide’s South Beach Takeover: Trina - Jeezy Hosts Memorial Day Weekend At KOD @ Meet & Greet & Celebrity Fashion Show; 12PM King Of Diamonds (17800 N.E. 5th Ave) @ Macy’s Downtown (22 E Flagler St.) - Keri Hilson “Pretty Girl Rock” @ SOBE Live - DJ Khaled & Ace Hood Host Memorial Week- (1203 Washington Ave) end @ Cameo (1445 Washington Ave) - Memorial Weekend 3rd Annual All White Party - Travis Porter Live & Direct @ SOBE Live (1203 @ Aizia Restaurant & Nightclub (3660 S Ocean Washington Ave) Dr.) - Waka Flocka Hosts @ Dream Nightclub (1532 - Keri Hilson Live @ Living Room Night Club Washington Ave) (671 Washington Ave) - NBA & NFL Takeover Hosted by Saiga @ Dolce Friday May 27TH Ultra Lounge (1501 Ocean Dr) - DJ Prostyle, DJ Envy, DJ Entice, DJ Norie Da Sunday May 29th Governor, DJ Johnny DJ Spider Host Miami Madness 2011; 1PM @ MIA Bella Roma (1238 - Juelz Santana Memorial Day Pool Party ; Ocean Dr) 12PM @ The Carlton Pool & Lobby Bar (1443 - Slip-N-Slide & The Source Magazine Presents : Collins Ave) “Who Hotter Than Me” Artist Showcase; 7PM @ - Slip-N-Slide’s South Beach Takeover: Comedy NoWhere Lounge (653 Washington Ave) Show; 8PM @ James L Knight Center (400 - Lil Wayne & Drake Host @ King Of Diamonds Southeast 2nd Ave #3) (17800 N.E. 5th Ave) - Ying Yang Twins Live @ Dolce Ultra Lounge - Lil Wayne & Drake Host @ LIV Nightclub (1501 Ocean Dr.) (4441 Collins Ave) - DJ Khaled, Ace Hood, Trina, Vybz Kartel Live - DJ Khaled & Ace Hood 4th Annual Mardi Gras At Best of the Best Concert; 3PM @ Bicentennial Memorial Day Weekend @ B.E.D (929 Washing- Park (1075 Biscayne Blvd) ton Ave) - Travis Daniels, Reshad Jones & Roscoe Par- - Plies Live Memorial Weekend 2011 @ SOBE rish Host Memorial Day Weekend Million Dollar Live (1203 Washington Ave) Tip Off @ King Of Diamonds (17800 N.E. 5th - Jeezy Memorial Day Weekend @ Dream Night- Ave) club (1532 Washington Ave) - Trey Songz Hosts Sunday Dream @ Dream - Wale Live @ Nocturnal Nightclub (50 NE 11th Nightclub (1532 Washington Ave) St) - NYC Invades MIA: Jim Jones & Juelz Santana - Rick Ross Performing Live @ Club Space (34 Host @ SOBE Live (1203 Washington Ave) Northeast 11th St) - Adult Film Stars Ayrana Starr, Candace Von, Monday May 30TH Roxy Reynolds & Beuty Dior @ Living Room Night Club (671 Washington Ave) - Miami Industry Brunch & The Next Big R&B Star Showcase; 11AM @ Crescendo Jazz & Blues Saturday May 28th Lounge - Wale & Uncle Luke Host Memorial Day Finale - Keri Hilson, Rick Ross, Big Sean, Chris Brown @ SOBE Live (1203 Washington Ave) & More Live At Spring Fest Miami; 5PM @ - Juelz Santana Live In Concert @ Dolce Ultra Bicentennial Park (1075 Biscayne Blvd) Lounge (1501 Ocean Dr.)

14 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 15 16 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 17 MIAMI OG AND POE BOY/CASH MONEY him. Now that I’m seeing all the things he’s do- SIGNEE BRISCO PLANS TO TAKE YOU TO 21 ing, he’s still one of my idols. I’m still one of his JUMP STREET THIS MEMORIAL DAY. protégés so I’m trying to do what he does. My label is called Goon Music Group. You’ve been at this for a long time and are Brisco Words by Julia Beverly still waiting for that one big record to blow Is there a release date for Street Medicine? you up nationally. What motivates you to Still no, but it better come out this year! keep going and prevents you from getting discouraged? Who makes the final call on when that comes I do shows. I’ve been doing shows since out? “Bitch I’m Me” and “Just Know That” and “Black Slim, Wayne, Birdman, E-Class, DJ Khaled, the Shades” and all the records I’ve put out. I’ve list goes on. That’s why I say we gotta have that been doing shows every weekend for the past sit-down and solidify the greatness of ya boy. three and a half years. That’s what keeps me motivated, just doing these shows. People are With all the big names on the Young Money/ telling me, “Brisco, you’re hot. You’re doing Cash Money roster, it’s gotta be a challenge a good job. Keep doing what you’re doing. to make your album a priority. When’s Street Medicine coming out?” That’s Of course. I’m technically Cash Money. It’s me, what keeps me going. Bow Wow, Wayne, Drake, Nicki. But you know, once you’re Cash Money, you’re Young Money. You’re dropping a mixtape during Memorial It’s one big family. I mean, I really can’t say that Day weekend? for myself because I’m considered one of the Yeah, it’s called 21 Jump Street. It’s going to be vets. When I come in the room cats stand up the album before the album Street Medicine. and give me their seat. So no, not for me. I just 21 Jump Street is the infamous street I grew think it’s on me to get out and do more virals up on in Opa Locka. I’m pouring my heart out and get out to the masses. I’ve been stuck in on this mixtape. It’s going to be a lot of slow the studio developing my niche and study- tracks, a lot of good music. I’m taking it back to ing this craft so much that I haven’t gotten a that Rick Ross “Here I Am,” feel me? It’s all origi- chance to do the virals. I think that’s what the nal tracks, nobody else’s tracks. There’s a lot of game is coming to, the virals, the blogs, more producers on there where I don’t know who visuals. A lot of people have been rocking with did the tracks. I know when it drops they’re go- Brisco for years but they don’t know what the ing to be yelling at me like, “Brisco, you put my hell I look like. I think I need to fix that. shit on your mixtape!?” You should be honored to have me on one of your beats. What songs do you plan to shoot videos for on 21 Jump Street? Where will people be able to find 21 Jump We’re going to as many songs as possible, from Street? the intro on out. The first song is called “21 You can purchase it, you can download it for Jump St,” where I just give a brief description free. It’s whatever you wanna do. I’m trying to of my whole city. I named a lot of influential get to the masses now. I used to just be Brisco people in my city. There’s one called “Promises” in the hood, but now I’m trying to get out of that’s just about the stresses of being an artist Opa Locka and Florida. I’m trying to go to Asia, and the promises they make to you, from the Brazil, Cali, all that. I’m trying to spread my label to your family and friends. There’s one hustle. called “Fuck Nigga Free” or FNF, that’s with my artist Cadillac. At one point you and Poe Boy had a falling out. I guess you ended up resolving that? As an OG in Miami‘s music scene, how do you Of course. Poe Boy is my foundation. I was just feel about Uncle Luke running for Mayor? distracted as an artist. I just lashed out, and That’s big! It’s big like Obama running for I knew I could because I built some of these office. Obama definitely made me feel like walls around here. If I was anybody else…don’t anything is possible. It’s a great opportunity for do it. (laughs) Miami. I’m voting.

So tell me about your new label. Is there anything else you’d like to say? It’s called Goon Music. I’m in the process of OZONE, Julia Beverly, my baby mama, I wish signing a Hip Hop cat called Cadillac and also you’d let me see my kids. (laughs) Brisco the my cousin Lil Ronnie, who sings R&B. I’m just Opa Locka goon, you know what it is. Respect trying to set a foundation. Rick Ross was the greatness. Google me, the good and the bad, first cat to ever let me go in the booth with it’s all good!

18 // OZONE MAG Brisco Words by Julia Beverly

OZONE MAG // 19 20 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 21 Words by Julia Beverly Guyana

22 // OZONE MAG MULTI-TALENTED SINGER/RAPPER GUYANA you don’t see a lot of female rappers having Words by Julia Beverly IS REPRESENTING FOR HER HOME COUNTRY success lately. Do you think it’s harder for IN A BIG WAY - BY ADOPTING THEIR NAME. women to break into the rap game? Guyana CITING INFLUENCES LIKE MISSY ELLIOTT AND Definitely, after seeing the BET Award nomina- LAURYN HILL, THE FORMER TRINA AFFILIATE tions. AND SELF-CLAIMED BROKE BITCH SLAYER HAS SET OUT ON HER OWN AND LINKED I heard there was a lot of controversy over UP WITH NFL PLAYER BRYANT McKINNIE’S that. Well, have you had situations where BMAJOR MUSIC LABEL AND TONY NEAL’s men didn’t take you seriously, or what are CORE DJs. some of the challenges you’ve had to deal with as a female trying to break into the To start off, what’s your background? Are you music industry? a Miami native? I haven’t really experienced anything too bad Well, I’m Guyanese, but I was raised in Queens yet. Everybody’s pretty much been embracing and I migrated down here to Miami. I’ve been me. here for about nine years. Are there any other artists signed to BMajor How did you get started in music? You were or are you the first release? in Trina’s group originally, right? It’s myself, Freddy P from Making the Band, Yeah, I was in Trina’s group Pretty Money but Jordan Hollywood, and a few others. I’ve I decided to branch off and do my thing and collaborated with a few of my labelmates explore my own talent by myself. The group already. On my mixtape Broke Bitch Slayer I just wasn’t moving at the pace I wanted it to have [features from] Freddy P, Yung Berg, Sean go, so I just decided to do my own thing. Bry- Kingston, Alyssa Nicole - she’s an up and com- ant [McKinnie] gave me an opportunity, and ing artist from Milwaukee - and Chadillac, he’s here I am. from Miami.

How did you hook up with Bryant McKinnie’s Are you planning on dropping an album in label BMajor Music? the near future? He was working with my group Pretty Money I’m gonna push the mixtape for now and then first, so that’s how i knew him. shoot some videos, yeah. In the meantime I’ll be working on an album You did some things recently with The CORE as well. DJs, right? Yes, I performed at one of the events during Do you have any shows coming up during The CORE DJs retreat down here in Miami at Memorial Day weekend where people visit- Club BED. The CEO of The CORE DJs, Tony Neal, ing Miami can check you out? is also the president of BMajor Music Group. I’ll be at Hard Rock on May 26th, I have a show there. It’s me and eleven other artists. I’m the Well, that’s a good collaboration for you guys only female on the bill. then, having a DJ crew in your corner. So content-wise, is your music similar to Trina’s? Where can people pick up the mixtape? Would you say you fall into that same cat- They can download it from datpiff.com or egory, or how do you differentiate yourself hotnewhiphop.com, or they can check it out from some of the other female rappers that on The CORE DJs radio. have come out? I can rap patwa. I sing and I rap. So you’re the Broke Bitch Slayer? (laughs) I sure am. I’m tired of these broke So you’re on a Lauryn Hill type of vibe, you bitches. They need to get a job and get their can do it all? shit together. They’re hating but it don’t stop Yes, I can pretty much do it all. Missy [Elliott] nothing. It’s just motivation. too, she can do it all. I’d put myself in that category. My inspirations are Missy [Elliott], Is there anything else you want to say? Lauryn Hill, Foxy Brown, and Lil Kim. I wanna give a shout out to the CEO of my label Bryant McKinnie and the whole BMajor Well, those are good inspirations to have. family, and all my fans that I have so far. Follow Obviously Nicki Minaj has had a big year, but me on Twitter at @ImGuyana. //

OZONE MAG // 23 24 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 25 J Cash Words by Julia Beverly

26 // OZONE MAG SLIP N SLIDE STREETS’ NEW ARTIST J CASH IS CERTIFIED IN THE STREETS OF MIAMI. Words by Julia Beverly HERE, HE REVEALS HIS MEMORIAL DAY J Cash WEEKEND PLANS AND EXPLAINS WHY So you have a white on white car? WHITE IS RIGHT. I only drive white cars. I have a lot of cars. I have a white Lamborghini. Right now Who were some of your influences in the I’m in my favorite car, one of those brand Miami area when you decided to get into new Chargers that I just use to run around rap? with. Actually, my favorite car is one that I always liked Plies. He’s not from Miami but I don’t own yet. One day I want to buy a he was still a movement for Miami. I listened white Bugatti. When I hit platinum, I’m to a lot of Rick Ross and Jeezy, people that going to buy a white Bugatti. That’s going were talking about reality. It doesn’t matter to be my gift to myself; I’ll feel like I’ve what you’re saying on a record if you didn’t earned it. really live that life. Do you have any major features on the Does your music fall into that same trap- album? star rap category as someone like Plies or Since I linked up with Slip N Slide I did Jeezy? a record with Yo Gotti.. I listen to him so Kind of. I’ve been through a lot. I’ve seen that’s kinda cool that I was able to do it all and I feel like at the end of the day, something with him. I’m not sure when realness sells. Everybody wants to be real they’re going to release it. but a lot of people can’t do it. You can’t just go to McDonald’s and pick a person that Do you have any major plans for Memo- cooks burgers and have them talk about the rial Day weekend? trap game. He might be a good rapper but I’m not sure what Slip N Slide has planned, when you look at his resume, he still works but I know I’ll be doing some things in at McDonald’s. the streets. I might be at the Pac Jam with Mystikal. I doubt I’m going to be on South So you feel like your background qualifies Beach unless I have to be. I’m more into you to speak on the street game? the streets. I’ve got two new songs that Yeah, I mean if you look at my street cred, just came out that I did with Piccalo and a that’s what it is. pop artist named Mexi. The radio station 97.7 picked that up, so they’ll be playing How did you get Slip N Slide’s attention? that all month. I put out a mixtape. I’m the type of dude where, if I do something, I’ve got to do it Do you have a Twitter or anything where right, you understand? I did my first mixtape people can check you out? with DJ Drama. I collaborated with all Miami Yeah, I’ve got a Twitter, it’s @RealJCash305. artists like Brisco, Billy Blue, Trick Daddy, My YouTube channel is also RealJCash305. and Piccalo. Now I’m working on my debut album through Slip N Slide, which is going Is there anything else you want to add? to be called If It Ain’t White It Ain’t Right. That’s pretty much it. I’m just doing this music for the streets, so at the end of the Is that a cocaine reference? day I let the streets talk. I could say any- It doesn’t have to be. Everybody knows that thing, you know, I can sell dreams in this white means clean, white means prosper- interview but I’d rather let the streets of ity. White is always a good color. It’s a clean Miami Dade County talk – from Tri-County color, like an aura. I don’t want to label it as West Palm Beach all the way down to [a cocaine reference]. I’ll let the listener label Florida City. I’ll let them talk. That’s what it whatever they want, you know? It has it’s all about anyway. It’s about the fans. // multiple meanings. It could be a white girl – some people like white girls. Some people like white cars. If It Ain’t White It Ain’t Right, it could mean anything.

OZONE MAG // 27 Mike

Bless Words by Julia Beverly

28 // OZONE MAG SLIP N SLIDE RAPPER MIKE BLESS EXPLAINS have a lot going on. I got picked up for a movie WHY HE’S THE LEBRON JAMES OF THE RAP called Magic City playing a character named GAME AND REVEALS HIS UPCOMING MOVIE True. I’m still focused on my music though, STAR DEBUT. I just dropped my mixtape Money , Sex & Paraphernalia which is doing real good. It had Mike For people that may not be familiar with 20,000 downloads in two days and is picking Mike Bless, what’s your story? up throughout Florida. My single “Gone” is on I was born and raised in Akron, OH. I brought iTunes now. Strip clubs down in Miami picked my talents to South Beach, like Lebron. I grew up on it real heavy and I’ve been getting a lot up in the hood doing music and playing ball. of love on it. I just shot the video and it drops Bless Words by Julia Beverly I got introduced to the industry in Pensacola, Memorial weekend. I don’t really focus on FL. My buzz got real heavy in the Gulf Coast what song goes on the album, I just make mu- area. Slip N Slide was doing a completion up sic, stay in the studio and let the people decide there and they told Ted Lucas the CEO about what’s what. Nowadays you gotta do more me. Ted was like, “If he’s really that good tell than make music, you gotta brand yourself. him to come to the competition.” At the time I You’ve got people like Rick Ross and Wayne was doing paid shows but the club owner told and Baby and you gotta be more than artist, me if I was hungry to come and do the com- you gotta be a brand. God’s been good to me. petition. Ted saw the crowd’s reaction; people knew the words and were singing it word for What’s the movie Magic City about? word. He flew me down to Miami the next day. I don’t wanna give to much away and get sued (laughs). But it’s basically about the pressures Coming from Akron and ending up in South of Miami and getting money certain ways. It Beach, what are your thoughts on the whole shows you the pressures at different levels: Lebron James situation? the teen level, the child level, the young adult I ain’t gonna lie, I’m a Cleveland Cavs fan. I’ve level. It’s kind of like that movie Crash where it been a fan since I was a little boy so I didn’t was four different things going on at the same want him to leave, but I’d be a hypocrite to be time that coincide with each other. mad at him for leaving. I understand some- times you gotta go to a different place to have Are there any other projects you want people different opportunities so I understand he to look out for? had a better chance of winning down here. It’s Definitely, I dropped Money, Sex & Parapherna- pretty much the same thing I’m doing. We’re lia. I want people to go get that, it’s on datpiff. still loyal to Akron, we still rep the hometown, com. It’s the first project I’ve put out since I’ve but everyone in the NBA is playing for teams been signed that I felt was me. I’ve got a lot of and they’re not from that city. We were just the underground stars on there: Iceberg, Bris- spoiled to have Lebron. Shoutout to Lebron, I co, and Papa Duck. Trina is on there. Definitely hope he gets the ring for Ohio. get that on datpiff.com and definitely get the single “Gone.” It’s doing real good in Miami. Did you feel like Cavs fans were too hard on It’s starting to pick up in Tampa, Orlando, and him? Atlanta, so it’s definitely doing its thing. My Well, yeah. That’s Cleveland. Akron is about whole vibe is a different lane from what you’re 30, 45 minutes from Cleveland. Cleveland isn’t hearing. I’m in the middle of street and R&B. really his hometown. Cleveland knows about I’m Rhythm and Gangsta, it’s smooth, it’s feel Lebron the NBA player. Akron, we know the good, but it’s from the streets. Lebron from Springhill Projects. He didn’t have that bad reaction in Akron.He can still go How can people get in touch with you? home to Akron. He’s still the king in Akron but Hit me on Twitter, it’s @MikeBless and Face- in Cleveland they were over the top because book.com/MikeBless. You can email me at they were just thinking about the team. He’s [email protected] and check out my family to everybody in Akron. We didn’t want new website MikeBless.net. him to go but at the same time he’s family and he can still come to Akron and get love. Any plans for Memorial Day? I’m going to be hosting the “Who Hotter Than Since you’ve signed to Slip N Slide have you Me” contest that Slip N Slide is doing. I’ll also seen progress in your career, and what do be performing at the afterparty. You’ll see me you have coming up next? on the strip with my street team passing out The best thing about being part of Slip N Slide mixtapes and t-shirts. If you’re on South Beach is that it’s allowed me to meet a lot of people for Memorial Day Weekend, you’re definitely and build a lot of relationships. I definitely going to run into me. //

OZONE MAG // 29 [email protected]

30 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 31 Ace Hood Words by Julia Beverly Photo by Terrence Tyson

32 // OZONE MAG DJ KHALED’S WE THE BEST ARTIST ACE with drugs or anything like that. I never dealt HOOD SCORED BIG WITH “HUSTLE HARD,” A with drugs so I don’t know much about that. TIMELY ANTHEM FOR PEOPLE STILL STRUG- It’s really just doing what you’ve gotta do to GLING THROUGH THE RECESSION. survive. I made this record because I felt like I was in a position where my back was against You’ve gotten a real big look with the “Hustle the wall. So to get in a position where I needed Hard” record. Do you feel like that’s finally to be, it was just a hustle. Gotta get out there the record to put you on the map and give and hustle hard and prevail in whatever you you that national look as far as you as a solo do, feel me? artist? Yeah, definitely. I feel like “Hustle Hard” was Rick Ross had a similar breakthrough record my definite breaking of the mold, as far as me talking about “every day I’m hustling.” Do being a new artist and kinda breaking that you feel like the meaning of that word has barrier. I feel like “Hustle Hard” has gotten me changed over the years? the recognition I’ve always been wanting. I feel that the meaning definitely has changed. Since we’re in a recession, “hustling” is getting For a lot of artists, it would be a dream come it by any means necessary. My definition is, true to be on records alongside artists like DJ whatever you do, be good at it and go hard. It’s Khaled and Lil Wayne. So it’s a great thing, really for those people who are struggling. It but at the same time, it almost makes it is tough times for a lot of people, just trying to harder for you to stand out. Do you feel like provide for their children or take care of their it’s a blessing and a curse at the same time? mother or brother. I’m the breadwinner of my I think it definitely worked out for the best. family so I ain’t got no choice but to hustle I feel like my grind in the past has opened hard. people’s eyes to who I am as a person and how much I truly work and how hard I truly go. So You said that you felt your back was against I feel like I kinda passed that stage already. By the wall when you made that record. What me dropping “Hustle Hard” as a solo record, were you dealing with at that time? that was really dope, but for me to gather True personal life issues, just dealing with situ- Wayne and Ross on a track as well, it’s kinda ations. My mom was in a situation where she interesting. I feel like it’s more of a blessing, really couldn’t work. I was going through my not necessarily a curse. For me to be able to persoanl issues, issues with past relationships, hold my own on the record, it was definitely a having children on the way, stuff like that all blessing. mixed in. Then I had my career in the mix. Through all of that, I dropped two albums, so Even with Khaled co-signing you so hard the this third album had to be incredible for peo- past few years, you still had detractors won- ple to really believe and support me on this dering why he was putting so much money next project. I’ve dropped two albums, and behind you. Is the success of this record your not saying that I did anything bad or anything response to the people who didn’t believe like that, but being surrounded by people like from the beginning? Ross and Khaled there are high expectations. To be real with you, I never had too much to I felt like I had to do what I had to do in order say because I always like for my music to speak to show the people why I’m worthy of the for itself. Even as I read the comments and see praise that Khaled is always giving me and the those people, I see people who are definitely things that he’s always saying. Not only that, supporting me saying they understand why but I have a family to feed, so my back was Khaled pushed me so hard. A lot of people definitely against the wall. I had to get it. are really behind me because they see what’s been going on. They see me grinding, and it So you’re on the road now doing promo and definitely worked out for the best. People are preparing to drop your third album. What really understanding now that Ace Hood is the else should we be looking for from you? truth, feel me? I have the Bodybag mixtape coming up May 21. That’s one of the projects I’m definitely The word “hustling” originally was affiliated happy and proud about, with DJ Infamous. more with drug dealing. What other types of Of course the album Blood Sweat & Tears, all jobs do you see people having that qualifies about my life, is dropping on August 9th. Me as hustling? Are you speaking more about and Kevin Cossom have a crazy mixtape we’re hustling in general? working on too. I’m trying to give the fans dif- I’m speaking about hustling in general. It’s ferent looks to show them my versatility with wherever you work, it’s not anything to do different styles of music. //

OZONE MAG // 33 34 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 35 MIAMI-BASED RAPPER H JONES HAS A BIT internet but a lot of my day one folks are from OF INFLUENCE FROM EACH COAST, HAVING the concrete. New York to Miami, it’s from LIVED IN NEW YORK, BALTIMORE, CALIFOR- me being out in the streets, the cyphers, and NIA, AND FLORIDA. HERE, HE SPEAKS ON AT- people seeing my face. It is what it is but the TENDING ORLANDO COLLEGE FULL SAIL AND Internet is definitely going to be the bread and H Words Jones by Julia Beverly USING THE INTERNET TO HIS ADVANTAGE. butter for me.

When did you start rapping? You mentioned cyphers. Do you think it’s I’m 23 now and I’ve been seriously rapping hard to transition from that to making com- since I was about 13, so ten years. Rap has mercially viable music? always been a career goal for me. It was either Yes and no. I feel like the artists did that to the that or the other path taken. All my other music. They got lazy. That’s another reason homeboys were going to jail or dying doing we’re trying to keep it independent. At a the same shit, so I decided I was gonna try this certain point when they reach a certain level of music. success they don’t care about whether you like the music or if it sounds good, they just care Were you mostly influenced by East Coast about if people are buying it. They’ll put out artists? whatever the people are buying whether it’s I’m influenced by everybdoy because I always good or bad. As far as it being difficult for me, listen to everything. I was one of the only guys no because I feel like regardless there is always in my neighborhood up North who would going to be intelligent people. No matter what listen to the Hot Boys when they first came color they are, there are intelligent people who out. I like to feel like I’m well-rounded and that want to hear good music from a rapper who comes across in my music. It’s not just one puts his feelings behind it and not a rapper region that’s being represented, because I’ve who wants to be a singer and uses AutoTune. lived everywhere. And when I say “lived,” it’s not just on vacation, I mean I struggled there. I Do you have anything major planned for was in them streets. So when I speak I use dif- Memorial Day Weekend in Miami? ferent slang and people from everywhere un- I know I have 4 to 5 performances set up. We’re derstand it. Artists that inspired me, I know it’s also shooting a short documentary for Memo- cliché but Jay-Z, The Fugees, Biggie, Run-DMC, rial Day. We’ll be out there promoting, doing and Rakim. But I’m still a West Coast baby, so a lot of hand-to-hand stuff, rapping and just also Mac Dre and a lot of N.W.A. making some noise, building a buzz

What are you working on currently? Any major collaborations or producers on Right now we’re releasing The Uprising mixtape your album? to give people a taste and let them know we’re We have a club banger about to drop real here. The Uprising 2, hosted by DJ Infamous, soon with C-Ride, who is a Miami-Dade County drops next month. Then we’ll be dropping the legend. Then we’ve got Gorilla Tek doing a album The Uprising EP. lot of the production. We’ve got a lot of col- laborations in reference to other artists are Is your goal at this point to get signed to a a lot of underground cats and a lot of guys I major label, or do you plan to grind it out have personal respect for in reference to what independently? they do. I’m not really trying to pay people for We’re definitely independent all the way. We’re features but if I’m going to give the money to not really trying to lose our creative control. If somebody I’d rather it be money well spent I can’t put out good music then I don’t wanna than spending it on somebody’s name or make any music. There’s no point. I’m not in somebody who is gonna do garbage on the it just to make some money; I could’ve done track. There’s a lot of hometown heroes. As the that in the streets. I do it for the love of the buzz builds it’s from the city. music. We’re independent and we’re trying to build something from the ground up. I think Since you’ve had experience on the West, the Internet changed everything. I was born in East, and in the South, what would you say ‘87. I was here when the Internet really wasn’t are the pros and cons of each area’s music all that and now I’m seeing it and now anyone scene? can promote and market themselves. In New York, the difference between them and the other movement is that all these other Would you say most of your fan base comes places know how to come together and work from internet promotion? together as a movement. It’s a lot of cutthroat A lot of my added fan base is now from the stuff. [in the North] As far as musical content, it

36 // OZONE MAG H Words Jones by Julia Beverly

all depends on your everyday life. A person’s I’ve heard good things about Full Sail. Do everyday life in New York is different from you feel that’s a good way to break into a person in Atlanta or someone in Oakland the music industry? compared to someone in Texas. It’s different Nowadays it’s not even about just being in and that’s going to come through in the the music business, now it’s multimedia, and music. They’ll be talking about different you have to understand the tools of your things. But at the same time it all has a com- trade. It’s not just, “I have a dope flow”. Okay, mon bond. you can have a dope flow and get signed to a slave deal and be broke for the rest of What made you feel like Miami was the your life. You have to know all aspects of it. best place to break out of musically? Full Sail kind of saved my life. I went there Honestly, we didn’t look at it like that. I went and changed a lot of things about myself. I to Full Sail in Orlando and that’s where I met learned a lot and realized it takes more than St. John. We just linked up; it wasn’t about putting lyrics to paper to be successful. any music at first. We were just homeboys and we kept it pushing. I respect Miami Any other things you want to plug? because I’ve driven back and forth from Bal- Follow me on Twitter @KrownLife @ timore to New York to Florida and I stopped HJonesRSE @RSEMusicGroup. We’re pushing in South Carolina and they came off more he Krown Life movement. It’s a lifestyle. The country than Miami. I call Miami Little New slogan is “Krown Life: a lifestyle worth living.” York because they’re up to date on every- The main thing is to let everyone know, all thing yet they’re still self-sufficient in their races, colors, creeds that we’re all royalty in own world. They’re like a power center. our own right should we choose to accept that position. You are treated how you What was your major at Full Sail? demand to be treated and that’s the whole Audio Engineering. thing. Krown Life, we’re all kings and queens. It’s just some people don’t want it. //

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6 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 7 8 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 9 MIAMI’S BALLGREEZY KICKED OFF HIS at I was there, whatever is going on Miami OWN MOVEMENT WITH THE “SHONE” I’m there. They recognized the grind. I ain’t RECORD AND THE ICONZ CREW, BUT LINK- never slowed down. ING UP WITH FLO RIDA’S STRONGARM/ IMG CAMP IS TAKING HIM TO THE NEXT At this point are you planning on drop- LEVEL. ping an album? Right now I’ve got enough music to put You’ve been doing your thing in Miami for out an album but the main focus is the a while. How’d you get started? mixtape for Memorial Week coming out. It’s It’s in my blood, man. It started off with my a double disc. daddy. He plays the guitar. He played with local bands and I used to go along with You and Des Loc are labelmates now too, him and try to play the drums. This rapping right? You kind of have a similar style to stuff is something my brother started. My your music. brother was rapping and just being around He hast he melodic style too, but it’s differ- him, it rubbed off on me. ent. Even Flo Rida has a melodic flow too, but we don’t sound like each other. It’s only When did you first start taking it seri- right that we do collaborations. ously? I started out just hanging out in the studio. Do you have any big records on the mix- Somebody was recording at the time and tape that you want people to look out for? we were just playing around. I got on the Man, the whole mixtape is a classic. I track and everyone was like, “Who’s that?” promise them that. I ain’t let the city down I didn’t like how it sounded but everyone when I put out a mixtape. This is the classic told me to get serious with it. When I got right here. my first check, I kept on going with it. You’ve been able to travel a lot with Flo You were involved with a few different Rida overseas lately, right? label situations before you linked up with Yeah, it’s work, but it’s vacation at the same Flo Rida’s StrongArm/IMG label, right? time. It’s exploring. It’s more than just being Yeah, I was with the Iconz at the time. The in the clubs here [in Miami] thinking you’re [Iconz] situation came about because my doing your thing. It shows me that you sister and I used to always be around there shouldn’t think small. I never thought I’d be writing. One day they gave me a chance on the other side of the world, and I ended and I just took off from there. That’s how I up there so it ain’t no tellin’ how far you got up with them. We came to our differ- can go. It made me believe. Just waking up ences so we just sat down and decided overseas, period, is just a different experi- that it was only right for me to go out and ence. Being a tourist is a different experi- do me and he do him. So he gave me the ence. Just like when [tourists] come over green light to go ahead and do my thing. here and want to explore, I go over there and explore. Like in Dubai where they’ve With the “Shone” record, a lot of people got all the crazy designed buildings, that outside Miami didn’t even know what was crazy. Now I’m the one looking around the term meant. What’s a “shone” mean sightseeing. I want to go to Africa and see to you? what’s up in Africa. I think next month we’re It was a saying that means, a good girl that going to Brazil; I wanna go there too. parties hard. I didn’t make up the term though. It’s like “dawg,” nobody knows Is there anything you have coming up for where that saying came from. It was out Memorial Day besides the mixtape? there already and I just stamped it. We’re putting it together right now. We’re gonna be on the beach making movies. After you moved on to do your own thing, IMG/Strong Arm Entertainment. Come out how did you link up with Flo Rida and and see it for yourself. StrongArm/IMG? After I separated from Iconz I ain’t stop Is there anything else you’d like to add? doing my thing. I kept on dropping songs Follow me on Twitter at @RealBallGreezy. and they heard me. Everywhere they were My facebook is the same thing. //

10 // OZONE MAG Ballgreezy Words by Julia Beverly

OZONE MAG // 11 12 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 13 POLK COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE KEEM KONG They pretty much raised us up. My oldest sister PLANS TO NOT ONLY PUT HIS CITY ON THE Tamika, she was there for us a lot because my RAP MAP, BUT ALSO DRAW ON HIS CHILD- mom wasn’t really around much. She basically HOOD STRUGGLES TO SPEAK ON THE REALI- raised me. TIES OF THE OFTEN-GLORIFIED DRUG GAME. A lot of rappers talk about selling drugs and For people that may not be familiar with glorify the street life, but based on those Keem Kong, where are you from? experiences, it sounds like you’ll be able I’m from Haines City, Polk County, Florida. I was to speak on the flip side of things and how born and raised in Duval but I moved to Polk drugs affect the community. when I was in the 8th grade. We just started Exactly. I feel like in music, you’ve gotta be real getting it poppin’ from there. with what you’re talking about. That has to come from inside. I never sold drugs. I never There aren’t a lot of artists that have come even smoke weed. I do drink from time to out of that area. Do you feel like you’re time but I don’t try no kind of drugs because gonna be the first one to bring Polk County that tore my family apart. Sometimes you to the forefront? have to go through something to learn from Oh yeah. I feel like that’s the difference a mistake; you can visualize it and see it from between me and everybody else. They’re satis- other people that happened around you. So fied with staying right there, just being hot yeah, it’s plenty of sides to the drug game. in Polk County. I’m trying to expand and get Everybody is glorifying the drug game but we everybody out. We’ve got Fella starting to take need something positive. When it’s the main off a lil bit, and we had OHB - they were kinda problem around you, you can always to find in it but faded off a lil bit. I feel like my love outlets to speak on it. If you’re speaking on for music is gonna keep me in the game for a real life, it’s not hard to talk about other things long time regardless of what happens. I make besides drugs. music, that’s what I love to do. I’ve definitely got a following in Polk County. I get a lot of Do you have some club and party records as love and support. well? Oh yeah, I’ve got a lot of club bangers. I’ve Is your style similar to the typical sounds got one joint nobody’s heard yet, it’s called we’ve heard out of the Tampa area? “10 Bottles.” That’s gonna be real big in the I just make music depending on the way I’m streets. Right now we’re pushing the single feeling or the things I’ve gone through. So you “Gone Rock” featuring Shawty Lo. We’ve got a never know what you might hear from me. big banger that’s going to be the official follow You might get something hard, you might get up called “I Know.” We’re finna get it in. MMB’s a dance, you might get anything depending finna get on the map. on how I’m feeling and the things I’ve been through. I don’t base it off of, “I think I need to You performed at the CORE DJs retreat in make this kind of song.” I just deal with life. Miami and you had a lot of promotional post- ers everywhere. What are some of the other What are some of the things you’ve been methods you’re using to get your music out through? What are some of the struggles there? you’ve dealt with that you talk about in your Really just the visuals. You’ve gotta get in the music? clubs, get in their faces, handshakes, building You’re gonna hear all that on the mixtape. relationships, getting with everybody. The I’ve got a mixtape dropping Memorial Day posters, the models, everything. Guys love weekend. My family was on drugs, so we models. They’re gonna pay attention to the had to make it on our own. My sisters and models. As long as you’re pushing that to get my brothers, all we had was each other. We everybody’s attention and the music’s hot, I depended on each other. It’s the typical story feel like that’s gonna work. you hear from everybody else, but you know, I overcame it. We just sucked it up and we’re How did you come up with the name Keem gonna have something to show for it. I just feel Kong? like God is controlling my situation. My government name is Akeem, so I just dropped the “A” at the front to get Keem. And I So your siblings helped raise you? feel like I’m a giant, so I went with Keem Kong. Yeah, I have two brothers and two sisters. I’m actually the baby of the family; I’m the young- Do you have a release date for your debut est. I’m 24 years old. We all struggled together. album or are you more in the process of

14 // OZONE MAG Keem Kong Words by Julia Beverly Photo by Derick G

building up your buzz? I pretty much did it myself but we do have I have a mixtape that’s complete and we’re a collaboration from Shawty Lo. Everybody going to release that Memorial Day weekend. knows Shawty Lo, big shout out to him. The It’s called Small Things to a Giant. It’s more of a song is called “Gone Rock” and it’s taking fire in promotional mixtape, but it’s all original beats. the streets. I just did it to get out there and be heard, you know, get them to know the name. I’m What about on the production side, who did gonna keep dropping mixtapes. I’m gonna you work with on this record? do another jackin’ for beats mixtape. I already I mostly work with a dude from where I’m got one that’s up on Datpiff, but the next one from, Corey Slaughter. He did the “Paralyzed” is gonna be called “Gimme Dat.” It’s on other record for OHB, if you remember that hit. He people’s beats. I’m gonna keep ripping their made that beat. Most of the records i have beats and droppin’ them. came from C Slaughter.

So you’re independent right now? Yeah, “Paralyzed” was a big record in Florida. Yeah, I’m with the indie label MMB, Multi-Mil- Do you have anything major planned for lionaire Boys. You know, we’re trying to keep it Memorial Day aside from the mixtape? Any independent but if we can get somebody big events? to sign on, that can help us. Other than that, Yeah, I think we’re gonna have a mixtape we’re just trying to keep it in the family. release party on Friday at the Pink Room. Ev- erybody come out and support and chill with A lot of artists today are going the indie your boy. Let’s vibe and get this movement route because it works out better numbers- going. wise. If the numbers are right we’re looking for a ma- Any last words, or is there a website where jor deal, but other than that, we’re just gonna folks can check out your music? keep it in the family. Maybe a joint venture Just search for Keem Kong on Youtube, or situation or something like that. MMB Vision. Everything will come up. Follow me on Twitter at @KeemKong_MMB. That’s it. Do you have any collabos on this mixtape? I’m just gonna keep on making good music. //

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18 // OZONE MAG R&B GROUP JAGGED EDGE TALKS ABOUT It’s always a challenge when you’re dealing THEIR NEW RECORD LABEL HOME AND WHY with different minds and different hearts, but THE WORLD NEEDS MORE LOVE. at the end of the day, we came together with the common goal to be successful as a group. I hear you have a new label situation. How So we’re not going to stop until that hap- did you link up with Slip N Slide? pens. It’s the respect for each other, the love A friend of a friend, basically. We were search- for our fans, and our one common goal: to be ing for another [label] situation, a joint venture successful. with a label, and we heard through the grape- vine that they were big fans of ours. So the What was your opinion on the AutoTune ex- magic happened. plosion? It’s paved the way for a lot of people to come out with records that aren’t neces- Lately it seems like most R&B artists that sarily great singers. Do you feel like that’s drop have to collaborate with Hip Hop art- taking away from the credibility of the music ists to really have success in the game. Do game. or does it make artists like yourself you feel like it’s harder for singers to break stand out even more since you don’t need through doing strictly R&B, since everything the help of a computer to sing on-key? is more up-tempo and club focused? It depends on how you want to look at it. It Honestly, we don’t feel like that. The rap & R&B definitely helps those artists that can come to collabos have been going on for 20-25 years your city and actually deliver musically. But at now. I remember back in the day when I was the same time, a lot of those artists that can’t a kid it was Big Daddy Kane and Patti LaBelle sing [without AutoTune] are great songwriters. [collaborating]. And you definitely wouldn’t Sometimes you want to be able to hear what say that Patti LaBelle needed Big Daddy Kane that songwriter has to offer. Just because they to be successful, you know? I think that’s just can’t deliver it vocally doesn’t mean that it’s part of the game. I think when you have so a song the world may not need to hear. So in much young music coming out, as well as that sense, it helps you use your music to reach an abundance of R&B and rap, when you’re more people. around your peers someone may say, “Hey, let’s go do a song.” A lot of collabos come Musically, are you sticking with the same about just from people vibing with each other, formula as your previous albums or have you not out of necessity. made changes to your style and developed as the industry has developed? Speaking of collaborations, you have some Our style changes every album, at least in a rap collabos on your upcoming album, right? minor way. Trends have to do with each style Yeah, we’ve got Rick Ross on the album and of music, so as long as the trends are changing, Trina on the “Tip of My Tongue” single. Honest- your style is somewhat changing. With us, ly, that’s about it. We’ve never “over-cameo’ed” we’ve always kept the same formula in the but we’ll always give you a couple per album. sense that our goal has always been to make timeless music. In order to do that, we’ve been Are you still working with Jermaine Dupri on put in certain boxes at times. I’d rather it be this album even though you’re not signed to that way then having a trendy song today but him anymore? no success tomorrow. With this album, being Not on this one, but we definitely hope to on Slip N Slide, we’ve got a whole new cast of do more things with JD in the future. I think producers that we didn’t have access to when it’s something [special] when you have the we were on So So Def. So there’s a lot of new amount of success that we’ve had with him. At mixtures of sounds that we’ve created with the same time, we’ve been trying to draw our other people. own lines in the sand and make our own path and stand on our own two feet for a while. If Who are the notable production credits on we can make it happen on the next album or this album? the next two albums in the future, that would Jim Jonsin, Bryan Michael Cox, Cool & Dre, be great. Gorilla Tek, Jazze Pha, there’s a lot. A lot of the stuff we’ve done may not make the album but It’s a challenge to keep a group with four we’re getting ready to do another album so we members together and still on the same might save it for that. page after all these years. A lot of groups don’t make it; they split up and everybody What do you think separates a really good wants to go off and do their solo thing. What producer from someone who just makes has kept you guys together as a unit? beats?

OZONE MAG // 19 JAGGED EDGE CONTINUED is a little tougher for R&B acts. The rap road is the road we’ve always been on anyways. We’ve always supported It varies. There are different things that our records in the same way rappers make great producers great. Bryan Michael do. Whether it’s a show in an arena, or a Cox knows music inside and out. He can theater performance and then a nightclub play it, he can read it, he can even write it. afterparty, then getting up to do morning Then you have people like JD, Timbaland, radio, it’s the same process day after day or even Dr. Dre who may not have been if you’re somebody who wants to get out professionally trained but when you play there and promote your record. their beat it sounds incredible. I think what they all have in common is that devotion Is there a release date set for the album and that hunger to make great music. yet? Yes, June 21st. It’s called The Remedy. For Are you looking for tracks from up-and- the fans that don’t know, it’s our seventh coming producers? Do you actively seek album. So if you don’t have the entire col- out new talent, and if so, what’s the best lection, you might as well go get the other way for people to get in touch with you? six right now and get ready for number We’re always trying to put someone new seven, because you’re going to get a treat! on. That’s actually how Bryan Michael Cox got into the game. He was a new producer What are you remedying with this album? from Houston and our record was one of Love. The world needs love. Jagged Edge is the first he ever put out. We feel like we back and I want the world to know that we were put in this game to lend a helping never really went anywhere. We may have hand to somebody else. Once you make not put out records in the last year or two, your mark in this business and have ac- but we’ve been out doing shows. Our fans complished a few things, you stick your know that we’re still here, but we just want hand out and help somebody else. the world to know. We have the remedy for love. You pop in a Jagged Edge album - I What catches your attention about a new don’t care which album it is - you’re going producer, and what’s the best way for to feel good. Something good is going to them to get at you in the first place? go down. For us, as soon as you play the beat it’s got to speak originality. If it’s going to sound Is this a baby making album then? like a JD beat or a Dr. Dre beat we might as It’s always partially that, and not because well go get JD or Dr. Dre. For us, as long as we’re talking about anything too sugges- it’s something new and fresh and hits hard tive, but our music is sensual. We try to as hell, then we’re good. make sure our topics are based on reality because the music in itself is kinda sensual. Do you have any big singles coming up that you want people to look out for? So the world needs more love and Jagged The next single is called “Flow Through My Edge is The Remedy. Anything else you Veins.” It’s a ballad - y’all get ready! That’s want to add? what y’all love Jagged for, and we’re just Damn right! Yes ma’am, you said it. Hit us going to talk to you in a manner of love. up on our Twitter at @Official_JE. The world We’re promoting love. Just get ready to needs love and The Remedy is what is going love again! to do it. You go get the album and I prom- ise you’re going to love it real, real fast. // We talked a little bit about rap and R&B collaborations. What is your strategy when you’re on the road breaking a record? It seems like promoting a record

20 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 21 RAPPER CHEVI BOI AND RAPPER/PRODUCER @Supa305GMash or they can email me at SUPA HAVE TEAMED UP TO FORM G MASH [email protected]. We have contacts on the (GET MONEY AND STOP HATIN’).HERE, THE back of all our G MASH CDs too. MIAMI DUO TALKS ABOUT THEIR MEMORIAL DAY PLANS AND WHY TOURISTS DON’T GET Do you have any big plans for Memorial Day TO SEE THE REAL MIAMI. weekend? Supa: Yeah, we have a show on the 28th open- What kind of Chevy do you drive? ing up for Plies. We’ll be shooting our video Chevi Boi: My name is spelled C-H-E-V-I, so I Memorial Day weekend. We’ll be shooting at don’t want that misconception. Everybody different spots, but for sure we’ll be doing a thinks I’m talking about a car, but I’m not. Even piece on Ocean. though I love Chevys and I’m from the city of Chevy Caprices and Impalas, my name is Chevi Since you guys are Miami experts, are there Boi. any particular spots you want to recommend to visitors? What about you, Supa? Chevi Boi: I’m glad you asked that, because Supa: I’m the man of steal! Superman! I can every time people come down here they think do itall, basically. That’s where I got my name South Beach is the lick, but South Beach ain’t from. I’m able to do the production and rap everything! You’ve got Brown Sub, that’s our at the same time. Trick [Daddy] was the first hood. There’s a couple of places you can go person to jump it off with the name and it to eat. You can go to Lil Haiti and go to Chef went on from there. Creole, or you can go to Heads or Tails if you want some Cuban food. We’re multicultural Have you still been doing production work down here, man. There’s all different types of for Trick Daddy recently? nationalities down here so there ain’t no tell- Supa: I’ve been doing a little work with him but ing what you’ll run across in Miami. They see it’s been hard to sit down in the studio with South Beach and think it’s all fun and beaches. him. At the same time, since we’ve been doing But when you cross over to the other side of the G MASH movement we’ve been moving a the bridge, man, that’s where the hood is at. lot. We have some things set up right now and You’ve got Overtown, Brown Sub, Liberty City, then we’ll have to sit down and finish up some Opa Locka, ya feel me? music for his new album. Are there any other projects you want to What project are you releasing right now? plug? Chevi Boi: Right now we’ve got the Ground Chevi Boi: We’re about to do a tour with a cou- Work mixtape flooding the streets. That’s the ple of artists. We’ll be in a lot of cities real soon. latest. We had G MASH Nation before that We’re also on the Miami Invasion Tour with one. We’re on the road, doing a tour, trying Trick Daddy, Iceberg, and Brisco - the next stop to work. Ground Work is free for all our fans. is Atlanta. Ground Work Reloaded is coming We’re giving them a taste right now. We’re in soon on iTunes. You can hit me up on Twitter the studio working on Ground Work Reloaded at @Cheviboi_GMash, and the G MASH page is and that one is going to be on iTunes. We’re @GMash305. If you want to find out anything selling that one. We have a website coming about G MASH, like our clothing line, videos, or soon, www.gmash.net. It’s under construction blogs, you can hit up www.gmash.net. as we speak. Supa: The biggest thing we’re worried about is expressing how much the movement Get What sets you apart from all the other up and Money And Stop Hating means right now. coming artists? That’s basically what G MASH is about. You’ve Chevi Boi: We’re original. Everybody’s trying to got a bunch of other people in G MASH, but be like somebody else. Not G MASH. G MASH it’s just me and Chevi that are the rappers. It’s a is doing their own thing. We’re gonna keep it real movement. // original. When you hear G MASH you won’t even know where we’re from. We have a differ- ent style. Our beats are different, and they’re all produced by Supa. We’re like gumbo, we’ve got different flavors.

If people want to reach out to you for some beats, how can they get in touch with you? Supa: They can hit me on Twitter at

22 // OZONE MAG GMASH Words by Julia Beverly

OZONE MAG // 23 24 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 25 MIAMI’s “GENRE-BENDING” ROCK/RAP style. Our drummer loves thrash metal, some GROUP MAYDAY! HAS ALREADY CAUGHT of us like the pop stuff. In our iTunes libraries THE ATTENTION OF MAJOR ARTISTS LIKE LIL none of us stay in one style. It expands our WAYNE AND TECH N9NE WHILE BRANDING influences with all of us. THEIR UNIQUE STYLE. THE SIX MEMBERS INCLUDE NONYMS ON PERCUSSION, LT HOP- You appeared in Lil Wayne’s “Da Da Da” video. KINS ON THE DRUMS, GIANNI CASH ON KEYS Plex Luthor: We actually had nothing to do with AND BASS GUITAR, VOCALISTS BERNZ AND the song. The actual song was produced by WREKONIZE, AND PRODUCTION GURU PLEX Cool & Dre, so in the video, we were basically LUTHOR ON THE GUITAR AND KEYS. just models. When Wayne shoots a video he likes to do a real performance - he has a mic I hear you recently signed with Tech N9ne’s on. So technically we got to perform with him, Strange Music. How did that come about, but we didn’t do the song in terms of produc- and why did you decide to go with an indie ing it. instead of pursuing a major label deal? Plex Luthor: That came about through another When you tour with Tech N9ne are you doing manager of ours who ran into someone who your own records or playing for the artists as works at Strange Music. It was a friend-of-a- they perform? friend situation. They wanted to see our live Plex Luthor: This tour we’re just playing our show, and we did a leg of the Independent own stuff. Grind tour. We pretty much destroyed that and Wrekonize: We’d love to play with the rest of they wanted to do business. the roster in the future. It’d be great to play Wrekonize: We’ve been around the block a the whole show. But for now we’re doing our couple times and we really got the vibe from own set. them that it was a refreshing change of pace. They’re really geared towards the artist and Why do you think more Hip Hop artists don’t the creative process, not chasing down radio perform with a live band? Is it a lot harder spins or other things we’ve been forced into in than performing to a CD track? the past. It was very appealing to us. Plex Luthor: Yeah, it’s a whole other beast that Plex Luthor: Plus, their road grind is ridiculous. some people have never fought. Wrekonize: It costs more money, there’s more Do you describe yourself as Hip Hop or rock? setup, more time to breakdown, more people Wrekonize: I’ve seen people say “genre- to feed, more people traveling. bending,” which is kind of a stab in the right direction. We combined some of the things we Do you feel like a lot of Hip Hop artists have love most from rock and Hip Hop and mashed gotten lazy with their performances? it together. No one has really classified it, and it Plex Luthor: I don’t want to judge these people, sucks because if you try to put it in one genre but that’s not what we do. you’re leaving something out. Wrekonize: We all had different misconcep- Plex Luthor: The funny thing to me is that rock tions about live Hip Hop shows, and thats’ the and Hip Hop are real similar. reason we shy away from them. With Strange Music, when we saw Tech’s live show, it was Other people, like Limp Bizkit and Lil Wayne, incredible because they’ve taken it to a whole have tried to do the rock/Hip Hop combo and different level. They have a whole different it wasn’t received so well. Why do you think energy. you’re able to pull it off? Plex Luthor: A lot of the [rappers] are just green, Wrekonize: I guess what’s cool about us is that because you don’t have to grind in that aspect our sound has been mixed from the begin- anymore. You can blow up on the internet ning. When you hear it, it doesn’t sound like without even doing one live show. two rappers on a rock track. It sounds organic from the beginning and it sounds like the dif- Do you think the whole major label format is fernet styles are supposed to go together. becoming obsolete with the success of labels Plex Luthor: We just created music on our influ- like Strange Music coming up? ences. When I make the beat, there might be a Plex Luthor: I definitely think Strange Music’s rock record where I like the riff but the drums business model is the future business model don’t hit hard enough. It’s just about being an for music. artist influenced by the music around us, so it Wrekonize: We’ve had a countdown clock for wasn’t an attempt at creating one or the other. the major labels in our warehouse for some Wrekonize: Everyone who is in the band now is time now. They’ve abused buyers for some part of that generation who didn’t stick to one time. They don’t have much time left.

26 // OZONE MAG Do you have any big plans for Memorial Day la, just for the record. weekend in Miami? Wrekonize: We’ll be on the road, otherwise we You’re involved with DJ EFN and Crazy Hood would have. Productions as well, right? What role do they play in Mayday!’s movement? Since you say you’re genre-bending, how DJ EFN: Crazy Hood Productions, LatchKey, and would you describe your average fan? La Rue Management make up the manage- Plex Luthor: Hot chicks. ment team for ¡Mayday!, we call ourselves the Wrekonize: Open-minded fun-loving individu- Tri-Fecta. als. Plex Luthor: There’s a lot of fights at our shows Is there anything else you want to plug? lately. It’s all walks of life. We’re just there to Wrekonize: We’re recording for the album right snap necks and blow some subwoofers. now. You can check us out at maydayonline. com. We have an album out right now and a Do you see yourself doing a lot of big festi- mixtape that came out with all the Lil Wayne vals or more the House of Blues-type venues? remixes on there. Our strange Music debut will Plex Luthor: We’ll do whatever if it’s paying. probably drop early next year. On Facebook Wrekonize: We definitely want to do the festival you can check us out under MaydayMusic, and circuit nationwide. the same thing on Twitter, @MaydayMusic. // Plex Luthor: Yeah, we’re dying to play Coachel-

Mayday! Words by Julia Beverly

OZONE MAG // 27 28 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 29 Most people in Miami know you as the host I think that goes on too much. When you turn of NBC’s Nitecap segment, and you’re also the on CNN, you get tired of hearing the talking co-author of Trick Daddy’s recent autobiogra- heads. I just want to see the story. You don’t phy, Magic City. That’s pretty unique, because need to give me the whole “who, what, when, not a lot of people have the talent to both why.” I have a mind of my own. A Nitecap is like host TV shows and write books. Do you have a slice of your favorite star. You’re essentially more of a background on the television side sharing a drink, sharing a night cap, with your or the on the editorial side? favorite star, and you walk away with your own I [wrote for] Newsweek, Time Magazine, and opinion. You know, I’m not going to editorial- the Miami Herald. My writing is very visual; I ize it. I don’t have an opinion. You kind of walk write very visually, cinematically. I’ve always away with what you think, and it’s going to be been trying to get my written work turned as real and raw as our city of Miami is. I want into some form of a documentary. So when to make sure my segment is reflective of that. I pitched the [Nitecap] idea to NBC, they let So I don’t think another market could have a me run with it. There is a lot of urban content Nitecap. I’m not sure. where the viewers are not happy with the way it is presented. I felt like it was a niche I could Do you have to present your ideas to the fill. I can present [urban] content in a very higher-ups at NBC? “Hey, can we do a seg- mainstream fashion. I’m a writer first, so I like ment on Rick Ross blowing a million dollars these little documentary vignettes. That’s what at the strip club?” Or do you have free reign? I like to call it. I used to write a lot of profile I was a writer before and I kind of built up the stories when I worked at The Herald and Time. respect with the powers that be. They were a When you’re doing a one-on-one interview fan of my work, because my written work is with a character it’s essentially a profile story, a very provocative and real. They were looking documentary, you know? for something; they wanted that. SO I have autonomy for who I have coming on the show. Nitecap is a pretty unique show, because you The narrations that you hear are not edited. don’t see a lot of mainstream networks like I’ve been blessed in that regard. NBC in other cities doing segments on things like Diddy and Ross making it rain at a strip Aside from the Ross and Diddy King of club, for example. How were you able to get Diamonds segment, what are some other something like this greenlit? Do you think controversial Nitecaps you’ve done that got a the Miami market is just more open to this lot of responses? kind of thing, because it’s more of a modern The segment on Fat Joe got a lot of responses. city? Or the way you presented it and pack- The premise was, Miamis at the epicenter of aged it for NBC? Hip Hop culture as a whole. Trick and Luke are I think it’s a combination. In my opinion, and the godfathers of the whole Miami sound and this might be a provocative statement – Miami Miami vibe of course, they’re the pioneers, but is essentially the face of America. There’s a lot when you look at the new era of contemporary of diversity, a lot of immigrant communities music, you know how Hip Hop culture is, and that aren’t necessarily assimilating into the New York always has to bless it. If you’re going American culture. Miami is kinda setting off to be hot, New York has to come and give it their own little world. I think Miami is a charac- that stamp. A lot of people didn’t like that ter itself. So if you’re going to have any report- [premise] because I moved from New York to ing coming out of Miami it’s going to have to Miami. So when [Fat] Joe came down, he was reflect the city. The city is bold, it’s gritty, it’s doing a lot of music videos in Miami and he raw, it’s new. Journalism is changing. I think was with Cool & Dre and DJ Khaled and those with the internet, viewers get it now. We’re guys. He really tried to bring music to the city. more connected. We don’t want to get our He kind of was a conduit to the [New York] news from a guy in a suit and tie that’s speak- mainstream. People were like, “How the hell ing from an ivory tower. We’re in touch now – i are you going to say that Fat Joe started the think people want their host to be someone Miami [music] movement?” But that’s what I that’s like them. I think Nitecap works because love about the segment, you know? I try to en- I’ve been blessed to be on that level. I think gage people, because everyone has opinions. people want their news and reporting to be I think we live in a society where everybody is on their level. I think they want to know how entitled to have one. And I love when people Rick Ross gets down [at King of Diamonds] are debating different provocative ideas. and make their own assumptions based on That one kinda stirred a lot of people. It was that. I remember that segment got a lot of really interesting. When I launched [Nitecap] flack, but I try to stay away from the punditry. I was thinking the urban market hasn’t really

30 // OZONE MAG gravitated towards the mainstream, but to That’s a very interesting question. For people our defense, it’s because you don’t really see who understand Hip Hop and its history, Trick our coverage. It’s sad to say, but when you see is a legend. He’s one of the pioneers. If you black guys getting coverage on Channel 6, it’s look at Hip Hop in the South, it’s safe to say probably because he shot somebody. So it’s that Trick, Scarface, Goodie Mob – they started really interesting to have a segment present- it. Putting a stamp on that gritty, dirty South ing us in a raw, gritty, but intellectual fashion. sound, that’s Trick. In writing the book and The response has been really cool and I’m just traveling with them throughout the South humbled by that, basically. in these small towns, he is like Jesus reincar- nated to a lot of people because he is their You also co-authored Trick Daddy’s book, voice. I think Trick is one of those artists that’s Magic City. Was that your first book? comfortable with who he is and the music he Yes, that was my first book. I had been at the presents to people, the ones that appreciate [Miami] Herald for several years and that’s how his music. So, “underrated”? Honestly, no. In Trick got familiar with my work. A lot of other brushing shoulders with people who really writers were pursuing him [to talk about] his count, like legendary artists and executives, lupus and what not and his legacy. I remember the respect level is there. Does he get the when he reached out to me and was like, “I mainstream fanfare presently that other artists want you to write my book. You’re a real dude.” may get? Not necessarily. That was pretty cool because I had been a fan of his work since I was in college. I’ve always What are some of the other projects you’re respected his take on society. I kind of respect currently working on? enigmas. I respect people who are contradic- I’m starting a journalism scholarship for kids tions, you know? I can respect the way Trick from my high school in St. Thomas, Ivanna can be real and authentic and have that bra- Eudora Kean High School... vado, but still love kids and his community. To read the rest of this in-depth interview, Do you feel like Trick Daddy is underrated? please visit www.ozonemag.com Peter Bailey Words by Julia Beverly Photo by NLPG Images

OZONEOZONE MAGMAG //// 3131 BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS, THE VERDICT politician on the campaign trail and being a WILL ALREADY BE IN ON LUTHER “UNCLE rapper on a promo tour? LUKE” CAMPBELL’S CAMPAIGN FOR THE It’s similar to a promotional tour because MAYOR OF MIAMI IN THE CITY’S SPECIAL you have to go door-to-door, shaking hands ELECTION ON MAY 24TH. REGARDLESS OF and kissing babies. It’s almost like doing an THE OUTCOME, THIS MIAMI NATIVE DEFI- in-store. You do a forum and then at the end of NITELY HAS SOME STRONG OPINIONS ON the forum you talk about the product. You talk THE POLITICS OF HIS HOMETOWN. about yourself and then you sign autographs. Unfortunately, when I’m taking pictures and Of course you’ve always been informally signing autographs, no one wants to see the known as the mayor of Miami, but at what other candidates. That’s the fun part about it. point did it become something that you At the same time, it’s grueling. You’ve got to go wanted to seriously pursue? to different forums and speak on different pan- I’ve always been involved in the community els. The entertainment business helped me out with the programs I founded, to make sure because I’ve always been a person who goes that kids were getting benefits from the to a lot of panels to speak. Even when I went county. I’ve worked closely with politicians on to the Supreme Court [to fight 2 Live Crew’s a consistent basis. When you’re dealing with censorship], that was politically motivated, so them you expect them to do certain things, I know the landscape of politics and how it but lately a lot of them haven’t been fulfilling works. People don’t know that I’m a political their promises. junkie. Two things I love: football and politics. So it makes it easy for me, besides the fact that So you decided to run for mayor out of frus- I’ve been debating the issue of free speech tration because elected officials weren’t han- [since the 2 Live Crew days]. I’m the champion dling what they were supposed to handle? of free speech and I can debate with anybody. Exactly. When you look at the community, you see innocent kids getting killed and shot. Still, even though you’re a political junkie, Grown people too. And the bottom line is that your career history includes records like “Doo the government is really not doing anything Doo Brown” and “Me So Horny.” Has anybody about it. Then you see the situation with the challenged you running on moral grounds? housing department. The housing department Not necessarily, because people in this com- is being taken over by the federal government. munity know me from the standpoint of what The treasury department is getting taken over I’ve done in this community. They knew me as by the federal government. It’s frustrating to a little DJ running around the park. I’ve met know that these things are happening. people on the campaign trail who have known me since I was in diapers, hanging out at the This is a special election, right? beauty salon where my mama used to work Yes, the mayor got recalled because of the on 15th Avenue. So they know me and where things he was doing. He raised the taxes 14% I come from and they know my family. I come and then after he raised the taxes, he gave all from a family with a two-bedroom house. I his employees a raise. That’s just disrespectful grew up in Liberty City with four brothers, to the people. At the same time, all of his de- and we all work. My daddy is Jamaican and partments have been taken over by the federal my mama is Bahamian. They know we’re a government because they misappropriated working-class family. All my brothers did funds. I’m looking at these departments that things with themselves in life: two physics were taken over and all of a sudden the trea- majors, one psychologist, and me. As far as sury has $180 million dollars missing. How can the moral issues, I don’t get that [question] you miss $180 million dollars? There’s no trans- because people know who I am. It hasn’t come parency in the government. The rent dollars up on the campaign trail. It only comes up from these affordable houses was supposed to with the press asks the question, but it’s nor- go within these lower income communities. So mally national press that asks. The local press between the killings and the [scandals] I got will mention, “How can a guy who made these frustrated and just said, look, I’m familiar with songs become mayor in the United States?” Ba- politics. I’m familiar with local politics and na- sically, I was younger just like everybody else. tional politics and I’m always raising awareness It was like being a freshman in college. I had for people to go out and vote and help people my fun, I made my songs, I defended it... with their campaigns. Why not go out there and do it myself? To view the complete 30 minute interview with Uncle Luke, visit www.ozonemag.com What are the similarities between being a or youtube.com/ozonemag

32 // OZONE MAG Uncle Luke for Mayor Words & Photo by Julia Beverly

OZONEOZONE MAGMAG //// 3333 34 // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG // 35 Famous Kid Brick Words by Julia Beverly

36 // OZONE MAG Famous ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA NATIVE FAMOUS KID BRICK ASPIRES TO NOT ONLY PUT HIMSELF ON, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT HE GIVES BACK TO THE KIDS hit you with some B.o.B. style, pop, techno, AND THE COMMUNITY IN THE PROCESS. so that sets me apart from a lot of these Kid Brick WITH THE COSIGN OF LOCAL DJs LIKE DJ artists. I just feel like I can take it to the Words by Julia Beverly CHRISTION, HIS FUTURE IN THE INDUSTRY next level. APPEARS BRIGHT. Is the Tampa jookin’ movement over? How did you start getting into music? I’m not really into that type of music so I Actually, I was into basketball. My homeboy don’t really know if it’s over or not. Famous Jonathan kept influencing me to get into Kid Brick and jook music does not mix. the studio. I was trying to tell him I wasn’t It’s not my style at all. I’m not trying to be really into music but he got me in there. categorized as a jook artist, I’m trying to After that, what made me keep thriving on be nationwide. this music was people’s reaction. Have you collaborated with any major What were they reacting to? artists? The first hit that really got me on and pop- No, but I have a nationwide feature com- pin’ from Myspace was called “I Be Rolling.” ing up that I can’t really speak on. As far I got like 53,000 plays on Myspace. About a as local artists, I’ve worked with a lot of year later I started to get radio play locally artists that are a part of my team, Hussch on the record. I did a lot of independent Boy. grinding with a local label as part of the group The Famous Kids. A year later I So what’s the goal at this point? Do you teamed up with Team Hussch Boy and that’s plan to put out a project independently really what got us the success on the radio. or are you hoping to get a major label DJ Christion and DJ King JB really helped deal? me get radio play. I’m just trying to grind and see where it takes me. I’m not really trying to do an Why did you decide to name yourself album right now. Just trying to put out a Famous Kid Brick? lot of music, mixtape after mixtape, just I wanted to be famous. When I named taking it one step at a time and we’ll see myself, I was only like 16, so I wasn’t really where it takes us. a grown up. I just decided on Famous Kid Brick, changed my lil Myspace name, and I Outside of music, do you have any ran with it. aspirations? Yeah, I want to help the community out. I You just dropped the YouTube mixtape, want to give back to the St. Petersburg, FL right? Tell us about that. area where I’m from. I’m not trying to be Yes ma’am, I just dropped it two days ago. like one of those artists that gets on and You can find that on my website, KidBrick. doesn’t give back. So I’m really just look- com. I did a whole bunch of YouTube music ing forward to helping out other people videos, and the songs from the video are on besides myself. the mixtape. How do you plan to give back? A lot of They say the Tampa area is cursed, be- people say that, and it’s a great goal, but cause most artists that come out of the what specifically do you have in mind? area only succeed as one-hit wonders. I want to do toy drives, celebrity bas- What do you think it’s going to take to ketball games, help feed the homeless break the Tampa curse? people, everything. I want to help tutor I’ve heard of the Tampa curse, but I can kids because I graduated with a 3.8 GPA, only speak for myself. I’m way different. I’m so I do like to help out with their school- diverse, I don’t just put myself in one genre. work and everything. // Like “I’m On It,” I can do that style, I can come

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