MINI CLASSIC SPECIAL EDITION 2005

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BRINGSBIG IT DOWNNEIL SOUTH WELCOME TO ORLANDO MINI FLORIDA CLASSIC SPECIAL EDITION 2005

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PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Julia Beverly floridaclassic2005 OPERATIONS MANAGER: Gary LaRochelle COVER STORIES MARKETING & PROMOTIONS: Triple J pg B20-21 Malik “Highway” Abdul Big Neil pg B14-B15 CONTRIBUTORS: Luis Santana, Mercedes (Strictly Bigga Rankin pg A26-A27 Streets), Noel Malcolm Papa Duck & Swordz pg A27

To subscribe, send check or money order for $11 to: DJ PROFILES 1516 E. Colonial Dr. Suite 205 DJ Nasty pg A10 Orlando, FL 32803 Phone: 407-447-6063 DJ Walgee pg A14 Fax: 407-447-6064 DJ Prostyle pg A12 Web: www.ozonemag.com Cover credits: Bigga Rankin, Papa FEATURES Duck, Swordz, Triple J, Big Neil, and DJ Walgee photos by Julia Bev- Orlando Maps pg B8-B11 erly; Plies photo by J Lash. OZONE Event Listings pg B12-B13 does not take responsibility for unsolicited materials, misinforma- Photo Galleries pg A11-A17 tion, typographical errors, or mis- prints. The views contained herein do not necessarily reflect those of INTERVIEWS the publisher or its advertisers. Ads KC pg A16 appearing in this magazine are not an endorsement or validation Treal pg A22 by OZONE Magazine for products Plies pg B16-B17 or services offered. All photos and Adept pg B22-B23 illustrations are copyrighted by their respective artists. All other Gutta Boyz pg A24 content is copyright 2005 OZONE SkyyHigh pg B18-B19 Magazine, all rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be Young pg A18-A19 reproduced in any way without the Underdawgs pg B26-B27 written consent of the publisher. Printed in the USA. Front-Line Promotions pg A30-A31 How do you balance DJing and produc- ing? It’s hard to balance between production and DJing, but you’ve just gotta make a DJ NASTY schedule and stick to it. When I get up in the morning, I go to the studio and leave hat have you been working on my phone and 2way outside. I lock the lately? doors and focus for about five hours in the WI’ve been producing very heavily. studio. After that, you talk to the labels and Me and LVM are the Nasty Beatmakers, get ready for the radio. After radio, it’s the and we’ve been collaborating on some club. This game is crazy. You gotta stay production with The Runners, Mayne and hungry or you’re gonna get left behind. I Drew. We’ve been doing a lot of production surround myself with good people. together. We’ve got a track coming out on ’s new album, “Murder Mur- In your partnership with DJ Prostyle, der.” We did a track for ’s new al- does it ever become competitive, trying bum too, and we’re working with to out-do each other? now. Me and Prostyle are like family. We’ve known each other from back in the day. I How did you link up with The Runners? wouldn’t really call it competitive, because Through D-Strong. They’re based here in he’s doing him. Prostyle is a great talent. Orlando also. They’re some fresh new tal- He’s doing what he does, and he’s a great ent with the same hunger that I have. DJ. He has character. He’s bound to blow up. I could see him doing it real big. With You recently won an award, right? me, production is where my heart is at. I won Dirty South Mixshow DJ of the Year at Prostyle’s got the label, too, so he wants the Power Summit in the Bahamas. This is to discover new talent. I’m gonna do that the second time I’ve been nominated. eventually, as soon as I find an artist I really believe in. O-Town, holla at me if you think Who did you have to suck off at RPM to you’re that next nigga, that next Ludacris. get the award? That’s what I’m looking for. I’m not looking (laughing) Nobody. They just noticed my for somebody who’s doing the same thing talent and my foundation. I’m not your as everybody else. I’m looking for some- average DJ. I’m somebody with talent. Ev- body that’s different and versatile, like Lu- erybody else that was nominated for that dacris or . I’m very picky. category with me are big dawgs in the game. Mr. Mauricio, he’s a big dawg in - Words & photo by Julia Beverly Miami. Steve Nice, he’s a big dawg in Dal- las. A lot of the DJs that attend the Power Summit are brand new dudes trying to get in the game, but there’s also a lot of veter- ans. You’ve gotta respect the mixshow DJs. They put it down for their markets.

And you’re still on the radio in Orlando. Yeah, 102 Jamz. I’m on the radio damn near every day of the week.

Having been in the game for so long, how do you keep it exciting? I feel like I’m just getting into the game. I keep that hunger. I never feel like it’s just another day at work. Every time I go to work, I’m excited to play for my listeners. Every time I’m on a show I get mad love. People know that I just go up there and play records, I go up there and show my skills. I break music. I play music I produce for major artists. It’s a real show when I’m on the radio.

10 OZONE 01: reppin’ OZONE (Los Ange- les, CA) 02: Trillville reppin’ OZONE @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 03: Greg G, Cuban Link, and Big Earl @ Tabu (Orlando, FL) 04: White Dawg, Wes Fif, and Mighty Mike @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahas- see, FL) 05: OG Ron C and Aztek (, TX) 06: Coach and Grill @ Firestone (Orlando, FL) 07: Pupp and Triple J reppin’ OZONE @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 08: P$C @ FAMU’s homecoming concert (Tallahassee, FL) 09: Jill Strada and Obie @ Calle Orange (Orlando, FL) 10: T.I. and Clay @ FAMU’s homecoming concert (Tallahassee, FL) 11: Luis Santana and Sean Paul (Tampa, FL) 12: WC reppin’ OZONE (Houston, TX) 13: Babalu Boys’ Ray and Rich @ Calle Or- ange (Orlando, FL) 14: TJ Chapman and Shot Out @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 15: Chino and Gary @ Firestone (Orlando, FL) 16: Plies and his brother @ Firestone (Orlando, FL) 17: Juelz Santana and DJ Drama @ Vibe Yardfest (Tuskegee, AL) 18: Stax, BG, and Kiotti (Birmingham, AL) 19: Boy Wonder, Aca- fool, and Justin @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 20: Plies and crew (Orlando, FL) 21: TOK @ Calle Or- ange (Orlando, FL)

Photos: Julia Beverly (01,04,05,06,07,08, 09,10,12,13,14,15, 16,17,18,19,20); Luis Santana (11); Malik Abdul (02,03,21)

OZONE 11 tion. Everybody’s not that lucky. The only advantage I have is being able to test a re- DJ PROSTYLE cord on the radio. I can play it and see how it goes, but I can’t get a record in rotation. Aside from DJing, what’s happening with you right now? Who are some other local artists that you My label All Pro Records is doing real good. think might pop off? I have three offers on the table right now, so Of course Treal, and Grandaddy Souf, his me and my lawyer are basically deciding album should be out already because he’s which is the best route to go. We’ve got had heat for a long time. I think Hankadon Bedo, Jonny Bravo, Traffic, and Nicotene. and his people are hot. Obviously Bedo’s the most ready to go right now. We’re working on his next single, I heard that you were considered as a clearing some shit right now. We haven’t host for Rap City. finalized his release date yet, but we’re I don’t think I’ll end up on Rap City, but BET pushing for quarter of 2006. As far has other ideas for me. I’m on 106th & Park as who’s up next, it’s whoever puts out that every other Friday, rotating with DJ Enuff. I’m record that takes off to where the people playing my position and getting more com- demand their album. fortable being on TV. They’ve got me DJing, cohosting, and reading off teleprompters, Do you think it’s a conflict of interest which shows me they have faith in what that you’re able to plug your own artists I’m doing. I have my own radio show every through your radio show? Thursday in New York on LaCalle 105.9, a It’s not how people may perceive it to be. reggaetone hip-hop station. I’ve been lucky Obviously, with me being lucky enough to to get down with them and they’re growing be on the radio and being able to play a so fast that it’s blowing me up in New York. record, that helps, but the radio station also Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I’m came down on me. I can’t just play Bedo DJing clubs in New York. I fly back Sunday all day or Bedo and Traffic and Bravo all on nights to do radio here in Orlando and stay the same time. If I feel a record of one of my to do the clubs on Sunday, Monday, and artists, the same way I feel with anybody Tuesday. After the radio on Wednesday, I else’s record, I’ll test it. With Bedo’s “Go fly back to New York. That’s my schedule Head,” when we started playing it on the ra- every week. I’ve got a calendar of events dio it got a lot of phone calls and requests. up on my website, www.djprostyle.com. Right now we don’t have a Bedo song on 102 Jamz and 106th & Park keep my name the radio. I played a few different songs, but really big with the urban side of things, and we haven’t found one that takes off with the La Calle is the biggest reggaetone station audience. A lot of people get it confused in the country, so that keeps me in tune and feel like Bedo’s getting a lot of play be- with the Latin market. I got the best of both cause of me. If that was the case, I’d have worlds right now. I can’t complain. a Bravo song, Traffic, Nicotene, and who- ever else I wanted on the radio in rotation. - Words and photo by Julia Beverly Radio’s not that simple. Right now Treal’s record is in rotation, and that has nothing to do with me knowing Treal or anything like that. We played the record a couple times and they put in their work. A lot of artists out here in Orlando who want to be on the radio need to do the same thing. It’s not as simple as just recording a song and ex- pecting it to get played. With Bedo, I did 10,000 street samplers alone, and 500 of the “Go Head and Do It” shirts. We did a lot of things to make it a movement so people will back it up. The radio station looks at things like that. Same with Treal; they shot a video, and the song was getting played in the clubs. It has to build up before it can get on the radio. Not too many artists can make a song that automatically gets put in rota-

12 OZONE 01: Big Mook, Tampa Tony, and Graph @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 02: Roland Powell, TI, P$C, and Trillville @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahas- see, FL) 03: Grandaddy Souf, , and Zay @ The Box’s car show (Houston, TX) 04: Clientell Cartel @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahas- see, FL) 05: Papa Duck, J-Baby, and Bigga Rankin @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 06: DJ Nasty, Bianca, friend, and Felli Fel @ Firestone (Orlando, FL) 07: Short Dawg and friends @ Vibe’s Yard- fest (Tuskegee, AL) 08: J-Shin @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 09: Magic Mike reppin’ OZONE (Orlando, FL) 10: Ghostface and Steph Lova (Tuskegee, AL) 11: (Hous- ton, TX) 12: Chill and Tom G reppin’ OZONE @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 13: 3rd Leg Greg and DJ Noodles @ Calle Orange (Orlando, FL) 14: Maximum Security @ Calle Orange (Or- lando, FL) 15: Webbie and Plies @ Firestone (Orlando, FL) 16: Juvenile and BG reppin’ OZONE (Bir- mingham, AL) 17: Wrekonize, J-Shin, Jim Jonsin, and White Dawg @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 18: Dem Franchize Boyz @ Cleo’s (Or- lando, FL) 19: Chino, DJ Prostyle, and DJ Reymo @ Fire- stone (Orlando, FL) 20: DJ Demp and T- Pain (Tallahassee, FL) 21: Ladies @ Fires- tone (Orlando, FL)

Photos by Julia Beverly except #9,12,&14 by Malik Abdul

OZONE 13 come down here and can’t really rock a dirty South crowd like it’s supposed to be rocked, how DJs like Disco and Greg G can DJ WALGEE do it. You have to be from out here to re- ally understand it. My style is pretty much everything. East coast for sure, but I love old school. That’s number one to me. But here are you from originally? I pretty much play everything, especially Originally I’m from the West coast when I go to Europe. You have to adapt to Wof Africa, Angola. I lived in Europe different cultures. Like Shakira, she’s big for a few years before I came to the States out in Europe but we don’t hear too much in 1987. I lived in Massachusetts, and end- of her here. You have to switch up your ed up here in Orlando, FL, two years ago. I style when you travel and be open to any was already connected with a Florida pro- kind of music. I play disco, funk, all of that. moter so it was easy for me to make that move. Where will you be DJing during the Flor- ida classic? How do the States differ from overseas? I’ll be at Roxy on both nights, Friday and The States are definitely the land of oppor- Saturday. I’m DJing Friday night with Kid tunity. When I got here, I went right into the Capri, so he’s definitely gonna be that New school system, where there was a lot of dif- York audience. Saturday night I’m gonna ferences. I didn’t speak the language as a stick with the dirty South set. kid, so the English language barrier was the hardest part. Now, everything’s straight. Do you want to give out any contact info? How did you start DJing? 508-400-1965 or www.streetgossipenter- When I came to the States I was exposed tainment.com. to hip-hop right away. Around 1994, I got my first pair of turntables. I was inspired by - Words and photo by Julia Beverly watching Rap City. I was working as a dishwasher, and I saved up enough money to buy my first pair of turntables at age 15. I liked what they did with the records, bringing it back and forth, the whole science behind it. My father was a DJ back in Africa, too, so that was kinda in my blood already.

What is your focus as a DJ? Clubs and . I travel internationally a lot. I go to Europe and Africa to DJ. Eu- rope is one of my biggest fo- cal points right now. There’s a great demand for DJs that have the style.

Are you into East coast mu- sic or dirty South music? My favorite type of music is definitely East coast, but I’m learning the dirty South culture. It’s definitely a differ- ent culture. When I moved here, I didn’t know anything about it. Now that two years has passed, I’m still learning. A lot of DJs from up North

14 OZONE 01: Aztek and David Banner (Hous- ton, TX) 02: Greg G and DJ Rob-Lo (Orlando, FL) 03: , Young Jeezy, Slick Pulla, and BloodRaw @ FAMU homecoming (Tallahassee, FL) 04: (Hous- ton, TX) 05: P$C and Short Dawg @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 06: Disco and Jailbird @ Firestone (Orlando, FL) 07: Hoe Tester and Webbie reppin’ OZONE @ Firestone (Orlando, FL) 08: Russell Sim- mons reppin’ OZONE (Tampa, FL) 09: Amanda Diva, Gar- nett Reid, and Askia Fountain (Tuskegee, AL) 10: OG Ron C & (Houston, TX) 11: Wendy Day reppin’ OZONE @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 12: Tony C @ Calle Orange (Orlando, FL) 13: T-Pain and his father @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tal- lahassee, FL) 14: Tim Brown and C. Wakeley @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 15: Ying Yang Twins (Los Angeles, CA) 16: Trife, Bubba Sparxxx, and Ghost- face (Tuskegee, AL) 17: Kaine reppin’ OZONE @ Visions (Atlanta, GA) 18: Fidel Cashflow and ladies @ Screamers (Orlando, FL) 19: Black Mike and Chubby Relle @ Fires- tone (Orlando, FL) 20: Chamillionaire and Rasaq (Houston, TX) 21: Lou Pearlman and C-Note @ Calle Orange (Orlando, FL)

Photos: Julia Beverly (01,03,04,05,06,07, 09,10,12,13,14,15, 16,17,19,20,21); Luis Santana (08); Malik Abdul (02,11,18)

OZONE 15 for “Karma” even though you sang the hook? There’s two versions of the song. There’s one that’s on the album, which is my vo- K.C. cals. They took my vocals off the song and called it a remix and put Avant in the video. But you can catch me on the album. ow’s your album coming along? It’s going good, man. We’ve got over Where can we catch you performing? Hfifty songs recorded right now, and As of right now, I’m not even sure. I’ve been we’re trying to put it all together. Everything so caught up in the studio tryin’ to finish is real good right now. I’m just glad I’ve had up this album and get everything right. We the opportunity to record over fifty songs. haven’t even been focusing on shows, but we should be doing something soon. Any major features so far? As of right now, no major features. We’ve A lot of people have said that you could got a few ideas of who we’d want to feature be the “next Usher.” What do you think of on the album, but nothing final right now. My that comparison? deal is with Roundtable/Cash Money, so we That’s a complement, just because of the were looking at maybe having Lil Wayne on success that Usher has had. He’s definitely the album. We’re not gonna have too many an icon, and as a kid, I looked up to him features, though; we don’t wanna fill it up and a lot of other artists. Hopefully one day and make it a compilation album. I’ll have my own name. I don’t wanna be Usher, but I’ll take it as a complement. I’m What about producers? still gonna go out and do my own thing. When we got the deal originally, it was an all-in deal, which meant that our team got If you could do a duet with any artist, to take care of the whole album ourselves. who would it be and why? Writing, production, and everything. But we Aw, man, I’d have to say Jigga. Just like recently went outside and did some pro- any other artist, it’d be a dream for me to duction with cats from Souldiggas – they do something with Jigga. Of course I’m a did some stuff for and Brooke big fan of hip-hop and a big fan of Jay-Z. Valentine. We also worked with 9th Wonder from Little Brother, he produced a few joints - Malik Abdul (Photo: Julia Beverly) on the album.

So you’re signed to Cash Money? My deal is with Roundtable/Cash Money, which is distributed by Universal.

I heard that you were supposed to sign with G-Unit. We were always in talks with them, and I did the song [“Karma”] and everything with , but I was always in talks with other labels and we were weighing our op- tions. We decided to go over with Round- table instead. It was nothing personal. It had nothing to do with anybody beefing or anything like that.

How did you get on Lloyd Banks’ song “Karma”? My manager Rashad Tyler had a few meet- ings with Sha Money, who manages G-Unit and . During their first meeting they asked me to jump on the hook, and that’s what came out.

Why didn’t they put you in the video

16 OZONE 01: Big Kuntry and Xtaci @ FAMU home- coming (Tallahassee, FL) 02: Malik Abdul and Slim Goodye @ Calle Orange (Orlando, FL) 03: Roland Powell, Tampa Tony, and Ed the World Famous (Tal- lahassee, FL) 04: Bubba Sparxxx and Juelz Santana @ Vibe’s Yardfest (Tuske- gee, AL) 05: Paul Wall reppin’ OZONE (Houston, TX) 06: Bubba Sparxxx, Attitude, and Dutty Red @ Vibe’s Yardfest (Tuskegee, AL) 07: Spiff TV @ Fires- tone (Orlando, FL) 08: DJ Drama reppin’ OZONE @ The Moon (Tallahassee, FL) 09: Bun B @ The Box car show (Houston, TX) 10: Adept and Bliz (Orlando, FL) 11: Lotto, Coach, and Tony @ Firestone (Orlando, FL) 12: YoungBloodz (Tampa, FL) 13: Plies and Julia Beverly @ Firestone (Orlando, FL) 14: Hustle Man @ Fire- stone (Orlando, FL) 15: Dawgman and Tampa Tony @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 16: Webbie and Grill (Orlando, FL) 17: C Hampton, Rollo, and Tom G @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 18: Grenade Records reppin’ OZONE @ TJ’s DJ’s (Tallahassee, FL) 19: Amanda Diva, DJ Sense, and Don Can- non (Tuskegee, AL) 20: Southstar, KC, T-Pain, Greg G, Slim Goodye, and Smilez (Orlando, FL) 21: Stone and BG (Birmingham, AL)

Photos: Julia Beverly (01,02,03,04,05,06,07, 08,09,10,11,13,14,15, 16,17,19,21); Luis Santana (12); Malik Abdul (18,20)

OZONE 17 JEEZY

18 OZONE ow did you find out Boyz N Da Hood you to court, saying that you’re only pay- were replacing you with Lil Wayne? ing $178/month in child support. HDid they tell you ahead of time? I really don’t wanna talk about that. All I’m Niggas ain’t tell me, but I don’t care, cause gonna say is that I love my son very much, I’m good. They probably couldn’t reach me. and my son is very well taken care of. I’m a I was probably on the road, doing too many hood nigga, so I got hood issues. My baby shows. I don’t give a fuck about that. It was mama wants more money, so I’m gonna a one album deal. What, I’m supposed to give it to her. But I want my visitation rights. be mad? I’m good. I wish niggas the best of That’s it, in a nutshell. The press takes it luck, especially Duke and Gee cause those and makes it into a big thing, but it’s noth- are my niggas. I fucks with them. But, at the ing. We doing what normal people do. She time, you gotta understand that niggas are wants more money and I want visitation gonna feel the way they wanna feel. Niggas rights, so that’s why we’re going to court, talking that shit about “Jeezy wanna be a like normal people. That’s what you have to star,” and “Jeezy wanna be in the limelight do. I’m making more money than I used to and be seen,” but it is what it is. make when I got assigned that $178/month, because back then I didn’t have a job. But From the outside looking in, it seemed I don’t want no muthafucker to misunder- like you and Jody kinda came up togeth- stand: my son is extra spoiled. So mutha- er, cause you both hooked up with Jazze fuckers shouldn’t be talking about what I Pha around the same time. ain’t doing. My child is straight. His mother I’m sayin’, I’m cool. I feel like dude is a is straight, and she’s gonna be straighter. I little brother to me. He still cool, cause he can’t knock her for that. That’s what women don’t want this. This ain’t me getting mad or do. I love my son very much, so he gets nothing, I’m just speaking my piece. Life is whatever he needs. All I want is my visita- too good for me right now. I ain’t mad about tion rights and we’re straight. I’m in a big- nothing. I’m good on that, I just wanted ev- ger tax bracket now, so I gotta make sure erybody know that it wasn’t me leaving the the number is right. But if she throws out group mad, like, fuck niggas or whatever. some astronomical number, that’s some- It was a business deal, one album. We thing you gotta go to court about... understood. Everybody knew, and every- body was cool with that. As long as the two - Photo and words by Julia Beverly bosses understand, I don’t need to talk to no artist. The rest of this interview is featured in the December issue of OZONE Maga- The Boyz N Da Hood situation wasn’t zine. Visit www.ozonemag.com for sub- beneficial enough for you financially to scription information. do a second album? I got my group USDA. I always had USDA. I been doing my own shows and shit before the Boyz N Da Hood shit jumped off. It was a business venture. They’re talking about, I wasn’t with them on the road. But I knew what it was. Nigga, I been doing shows. Nigga, you supposed to be with me. Like I said, it is what it is. Fuck it. I ain’t mad, just keep my name out your mouth. I’m a grown ass man. I ain’t finna do no rappin’ or none of that beef shit. I don’t do all that shit. If you gonna envy a nigga, envy from across the street.

Have you and Jody actually had a con- versation recently? Conversation? The nigga is in a magazine talkin’ about me. What am I supposed to do? I’m good. He said what he said, I said what I said.

I heard that your baby’s mother is taking

OZONE 19

Do you think you’ll ever have to change your name to avoid being confused with Trillville? Elisio: No, and honestly, a lot of people feel TREAL that our music is better than theirs musi- cally and lyrically. We have a loyal fanbase, ho are the members of Treal? so we have no plans to change our name at Elisio: Me, Cheeze, T-Sick, and all. It’s spelled different and everything. WPoetic. How would you describe your style? How did the four of you link up? Elisio: Crunk with a little more meaning, Elisio: Me and Cheese met at Jones High a little more melody. Lots of people com- School, in our senior year. We were trom- pare us to Lil Jon mixed with Bone Thugs bone players in the band. I knew T-Sick N Harmony. Every one of our songs has from Spanish class and we started a melody to it. Most of our hooks are self- with him. His uncle is our manager now. A explanatory. We’re talking about stuff. We couple years later we met Poetic. sit down and conceptualize our songs. We talk about stuff people wanna hear. You had a popular local song a few years ago called “Where’s Orange County.” Tell me about your new album. Elisio: Yeah, that got some radio play. It Elisio: This is our first official album. It’s did good at that time. It was just a hobby, called Crunk Tested and Approved. We’ve we didn’t really know how to push it. It just been working on this album for four years. blew up off the strength of the song. Whenever we made a song, we’d test it in the clubs before we put it on the album. Ev- What role does everyone play in the ery song on the album has been played at group? the clubs and on 102 Jamz. Our first single Elisio: Everybody produces, and every- was “Swang On Everybody,” and our new body writes. I guess I could be categorized single, “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Mine,” has been as the main producer. We’ve done produc- getting a lot of radio play. It’s in regular ro- tion for other local artists too, like Bedo and tation on 102 Jamz, WJHM. It’s kinda got a Wes Fif. “Knuck If You Buck” feel to it. It’s like, stay out of my business. Why did you decide to name yourselves Treal? - Julia Beverly Elisio: We actually called ourselves the 917 DJs at first. We were DJing in local clubs. Treal was the name the streets gave us. Baby Lac used to be on the radio on 91.7 calling us Treal.

22 OZONE

no niggas that’s gonna brag about all the shit we got, cause we’re still in the struggle. GUTTA BOYZ We’re still here. We still gotta get to where we gotta go. Everybody reppin’ that gutta. You gotta be a gutta muthafucker to repre- here are y’all from? sent for the gutta. Orange County, 700 block. Repre- Wsenting Pine Hills. What sets you apart from the rest of the rappers trying to get on? How long have you been rapping? We bring versatility to the industry, man. We’ve been rapping since we were 13 We some cold muthafuckers. Lyrically, years old, just doing shows and going to I feel like we the shit. Ain’t nobody in Or- the studio. At first it was just play-play, but ange County fuckin’ with us. Shout out to we’ve been serious about it for about three Treal, though, they’re my dawgs. I feel like years. Me and my niggas been doing this everybody’s doing their thing, but we all since we was little, now we trying to do gonna stick together at the same time. We big things. We’ve been a group for about bring that versatility. We’re young, raw, tal- three years. When we were young we were ented-ass niggas. Everybody should look just doing shows back and forth, putting out for us because we here, and we ain’t together little solo albums. But we stayed going nowhere. If we gotta carry this whole in the studio and stayed focused, stayed city and this whole state, we gonna do that. grinding, doing whatever it takes to get that Everybody get their grind and shine on, but love. We’re just trying to put the whole city who’s gonna get their grind and shine on on the map and represent. like the gutta gutta?

How did you two meet? What’s the single you’re pushing now? Well, we’ve been together since we were in Right now we workin’ on this single called middle school, doing our lil’ thing. Out of “Go Live.” That’s for everybody around Or- the whole camp, there used to be about ten ange County. People say we get buck and of us working together but it was only me go live down here. That’s the hot new sin- and him that was real serious about it. We gle we’re pushing. We also got “Ridin’ and had a track together called “Handle That” Swervin’” with Pastor Troy. That’s that hit that everybody was going crazy for. We single. Right now we’re still grinding in the stuck with it and decided to grow with it. streets. That’s where it’s at right now. We’re getting different calls, but we’re trying to Why did you decide to call yourselves target the streets because that’s where we the Gutta Boyz? came up. We the Gutta Boyz cause that’s gutta, gut- ta. We representing that struggle. We ain’t - Malik Abdul

24 OZONE

• BloodRaw, CTE (Panama City, FL) • Mighty Mike, DME (Panama City, FL) BIGGA RANKIN: FLORIDA’S A&R Why do you call yourself Florida’s A&R? Because everybody comes to me to do their mixtapes. I’m basically the only person that sends out their music to everybody else. I do email blasts to all the DJs. I think it’s our turn, because Florida’s got so much talent.

Even though you’re well known in Florida for breaking music, you’re not really recog- nized on a national scale yet. Are you trying to keep it underground? I think I’m less underground than I used to be. Being with the Hittmenn DJs and playing everywhere else I’ve gotten a little further, but I think I could be more national just by doing more promotions. Doing this Real Nigga Radio series took me a long way. Now we get calls from all over the country about it, and since so many people that don’t live in Florida are inquiring about it, I would like to have all my Florida artists on Real Nigga Radio so they can see what we got down here. I call myself the Florida A&R because I push Florida people. My mixtapes are the hottest thing in Florida right now. Everybody wants that Real Nigga Radio shit, and I’m jumping on all the artists that’s hot.

Do you consider yourself a mixer, a host, a comedian, an entertainer, or what? I’m everything. I’m a DJ, a promoter, a record breaker, basically everything. I don’t know what to call myself. I do know that we have all this talent here and I don’t see a whole lot of other people trying to help them get out there. Most of these DJs don’t really play good music, they just play what’s on the radio or what’s on 106th & Park. They don’t know how to take a good record and make it hot.

Let’s talk about these three hot unsigned Florida artists that appear on the cover with you. Tell me about Papa Duck. He’s a producer, first and foremost, and he’s a rapper too, which gives him a bonus. He produces real good and he raps real good. Papa Duck got a real down South style, that Florida style. I honestly think he can make it to the top if he just stays consistent with what he’s doing. These guys are hungry, they’re out there every day pressing up CDs and trying to do whatever to get out there.

What about Swordz? He’s from Duval, Jacksonville. Throughout the years he’s gotten better and better and bet- ter. He’s very versatile and he’s got a hellafied performance. His show is very hype. He takes it to another level when he does his shows.

Okay, what about Triple J? Triple J is one of the rappers in Florida right now that’s making a lot of noise. He’s another rapper that’s very versatile. He’s got good lyrics. It’s a good thing when you can listen to a rapper and understand every single word they say. Some rappers, you can’t understand them. Now that Young Cash has got signed, I think most of these underground artists feel like they’ve got hope now. A lot of them felt like everybody forgot about Florida. When was the last time you heard about somebody getting signed from Florida?

Do you want to give out any contact info? You can call me at 904-591-9362 or email me at [email protected].

Any last words? We need all indie artists to go out every Tuesday and buy each other’s stuff. We need to show each other love. That’s really the movement for Florida, all the indie artists throughout Florida. Whenever somebody drops something, go out and pick it up. Show love. We’re not buying each other’s stuff, that’s for sure. We keep complaining that we’re not getting nowhere, but we ain’t buying each other’s stuff.

- Words & photo by Julia Beverly

26 OZONE • 904 Click, MOE (Jacksonville, FL) • Da Few (Jacksonville, FL) BIGGA RANKIN’S • Ful of Drama (Jacksonville, FL) • Lefty Gunz (Jacksonville, FL) FLORIDA NAMES TO WATCH • Red Rock (Jacksonville, FL) • The Shoe (Jacksonville, FL) • The Village (Jacksonville, FL) • Billy Kane (Orlando, FL) • Young Cash, SRC/Universal • Chubby Relle, DME (Orlando, FL) (Jacksonville, FL) • Clientell Cartel, DME (Orlando, FL) • Grandaddy Souf, SRC/Universal (Orlando, FL) • SkyyHigh, R&R Records (Orlando, FL) • Wes Fif (Orlando, FL) • All In Records (Daytona Beach, FL)

• 21 Reese (West Palm Beach, FL)

• Big Bud (Gainesville, FL)

• OHB (Haines City, FL)

• Dirty Red (Tampa, FL) • DSD, Dirty Down Records (Tampa, FL) • Riskay (Tampa, FL) • The Underdawgs (Tampa, FL) • Tom G, Gigantic Records (Tampa, FL)

• Plies, Slip-N-Slide (Ft. Myers, FL)

• Boss Lady (Miami, FL) • Jody Mo, Florida Boy Intertainment (Miami, FL) • Luc-Duc, Hard White Entertainment (Miami, FL) • Mr. Zion, L.E.D. Reggae (Miami, FL) • Piccalo, Trunk Funk Records (Miami, FL)

were still doing parties and Front-Line was still alive. Willie Fisher: I really don’t know how we FRONT-LINE made it through. I think it was just prayer. Pat and I talked briefly on the cell phone during the hurricane which came Labor t would be impossible to discuss Day weekend, and he asked me, “What the Florida Classic without mention- are we gonna do?” I didn’t have an answer Iing Front-Line Promotions, the com- for him at the time. We lost a lot of money. pany which has organized most of the We actually almost lost everything. But we weekend’s major events for years. Af- endured, we had perseverance, we kept at ter a rough hurricane season last year, it and wouldn’t let that stop us. We had to Front-Line is back in full effect. OZONE almost start from scratch, and that’s what checked in with owners Pat Nix and Wil- we did. The next week, we were back at it lie Fisher. promoting First Fridays. We just kept going and kept praying and here we are. How long has Front-Line Promotions been around? So are you looking at this year as sort of Pat Nix: Front-Line has been in existence a comeback year? for about ten years now. The Florida Clas- Pat Nix: Well, we did parties during the Su- sic was one of our first major contracts for per Bowl in Jacksonville and took control marketing and promotions. of a great situation. We kinda turned a mu- seum into a nightclub for three nights. Fri- How were you able to get the contract? day night we had our famous First Fridays Pat Nix: I am a FAMU alumni, so I guess hosted by Cedric the Entertainer. Saturday that helped out a little bit because a few of night we had R Kelly’s party, and Sunday the people knew me and knew who I was. we hosted a party with P Diddy and Magic My reputation helped. Johnson.

I heard you got hit pretty hard by the hur- I heard you had an altercation with Fat ricane season last year. Joe during one of those parties. Pat Nix: Yeah, last year our company went Pat Nix: It was a big misunderstanding. At through a lot. We had about five different the time of the hurricanes, was one events planned during Labor Day week- of the artists we had booked that never end which included several concerts and returned our deposit. At the time, I was special events. The Labor Day classic was thinking about all the stuff I went through coming to town, and we had the contract because of people doing bad business like as far as entertainment. that. I knew one day I’d run into Fat Joe again, with all the events we do across the Which hurricane hit you the hardest? country, and I knew I’d have to say some- Pat Nix: I think it was Charley, but there was thing to him. What greater opportunity than so many last year I can’t even remember. at my own event? When I saw Fat Joe in- Our company lost six figures during Labor side my party during the Super Bowl my Day weekend. heart started racing. I went up to the DJ booth and had the DJ put on “Lean Back.” How did you lose that much money? I grabbed the mic from the DJ and started Pat Nix: Advertising, artist deposits, and po- saying “What’s up” to Fat Joe and the Ter- tential earnings. It was rough, you know? ror Squad. Then I stopped the music and We make good money as a company, but said, “Yeah, we the same cats that y’all took we’re not at the point where we can stand that money from during the hurricanes that losing that kind of money. hurt our families.” Fat Joe looked down at me from VIP and made a gesture, like, How did you regroup after that? “suck my dick.” So I got even more upset Pat Nix: I went out and got into the hurri- and I told him to suck my dick. I told the cane relief program. You kinda have to use crowd, “Put your muthafuckin’ hands in the whatever you have when you’re in a time of air if anybody ever owed you money.” Of need. I got several crews together that went course, the whole crowd put their hands out and did the hurricane relief; debris pick up. It was sort of a diss to Fat Joe. I put my up and things of that . It kinda got hands up in the middle of the stage like, me back on my feet. At the same time, we “Yeah, people owe me money too,” and

30 OZONE that’s when his crew rushed me. By the money to put an ad on the radio, but it’s all time he got downstairs from the VIP room, about being a successful promoter. You’ve I had my crew with me. We kinda squared got to have an eye for marketing. I think we off downstairs. In Fat Joe’s defense, I came have that eye. Sometimes it doesn’t work to find out that he never even knew that out our way, but we learned the hard way. the money wasn’t sent back to us. He had no recollection of the situation at all. So in What is your ultimate goal in the enter- his defense, I think it was his people that tainment business? kept our money during those hard times. Pat Nix: We recently became principle part- He was real cool and said, “Let’s step to ners in Club Whispers. That’s something the side and settle this. What’s going on?” we never really thought we’d want to take We stepped to the side, and his people and on as far as liabilities and responsibilities, my people started a little scuffle. The whole but the opportunity was too good to pass thing was over after that. I never did get my up. My ultimate goal, of course, is to make money back, but again, I don’t think Fat money, but at the same time I feel that it’s Joe knew anything about the dates. our responsibility to bring culture into this market. That’s something that’s lacking Didn’t you have a contract that would here in Orlando. A lot of people don’t know prevent you from losing the deposit in a about certain artists unless they’re being hurricane situation? played on the radio. There’s a lot of good Pat Nix: Sometimes a contract is just a piece cultural music and good vibes that the ra- of paper. The time and effort and money it dio stations down here just don’t touch, would take me to go to court to get that and I think that hurts the market. money back would be senseless. How can people find out about your Do you think promoting parties is a game events? of skill, or a gamble? Pat Nix: People who wanna have a damn Pat Nix: In the beginning it was a lot of big good time can log on to FLevents.net. gambles, and there still are some gambles. But when you find a niche, people start to Any last words? trust you to bring quality entertainment and Pat Nix: Every man has the right to go out your risk goes down about 80%. and do business, but it’s up to you to go Willie Fisher: You have to have skill. Any- out and get what’s yours. one can be a promoter if you’ve got some - Julia Beverly

Front-Line’s Pat Nix (right) with Eddie Mur- phy at Club Whispers

OZONE 31

Purchase a Florida Classic t-shirt from any of these Champs Sports locations for $14.99 and get free entry into the Florida Classic Jam!

(Altamonte Springs): Altamonte Mall 407-896-4644 (Oviedo): Oviedo Marketplace: 407-977-2422 (Daytona Beach): Volusia Mall 386-255-6002 (Tallahassee): Tallahassee Mall 850-385-0557 (Orlando): Fashion Square 407-240-3715 (Tallahassee): Governors Mall 850-878-2727 (Orlando): Florida Mall 407-977-2422 (Tampa): International Mall 813-353-1703 (Orlando): Seminole Town Center: 407-323-8130 (Tampa: University Square Mall 813-979-9771 (Orlando): West Oaks Mall: 407-291-8993 (Tampa): Brandon 813-685-8514

FLORIDA CLASSIC WEEK The Roxy EVENT LISTINGS Classic Edition of Phat Fridays. Ladies 18+ / For more info email [email protected] Men 21+. Dress code: Crispy. Hosted by Thrill da Playa, J-Blaze, and J-Deezy. Music by DJ Kid WEDNESDAY (11/16/05): Capri, Da Soul Rocka Walgee, and more. FLPromotions.com or TicketAnnex.com Tabu Nightclub Raw Flava Wednesdays with DJ Nasty, DJ Pro- Icon Nightclub style, DJ Chino, and Murder One Sound. Ladies Hosted by Southstar with DJ Greg G, D-Srong, no cover before 12. Ladies 18+ / Men 21+ / $10 Murder One Sound. cover. Tropical Magic Nightclub Zinc Bar Jamaican Me Crazy with Mr. CC & the Reggae The Candy Shop with DJ Greg G, hosted by Tony Ambassadors and DJ Jimmy Jamz. Women 18+ C. Ladies 18+ / Men 21+. Ladies get in free and / Men 21+. 10 PM - 4 AM. drink free all night. Heroes Nightclub SKY60 DME & Hittmenn DJs Gone Wild Afterparty. 10 Lavish with DJ Remington Steele, DJ Flip Rock, PM - 4 AM. 18+ HittmenDJs.com. Phantom, J Leon and Rockstar Entertainment. The Church Street Ballroom BET Soundstage Florida Classic Old School Jam: DJ Jesse Jazz Music by DJ Jimmy Jamz. 21+ / 7 PM - 2 AM. Club Whispers Club Paris Classic Soul Jam hosted by Joe Bullard, music Rumba 100.3 broadcast live with DJ K-OZZ. 7 PM by DJ Saxwell. 10 PM - 3 AM, 25+. - 3 AM. Matrix THURSDAY (11/17/05): Music by DJ Nasty, DJ Caesar, DJ Kid Vicious, and DJ K-OZZ Icon Nightclub Music by DJ Greg G and Secret Service. Every- Element Night Club one 18+ to get in, everyone 21+ free and drink Hip-Hop Happy Hour with DJ , 5 - 10 PM. free til midnight. Cleo’s Gentlemen’s Club Cleo’s Gentlemen’s Club Hosted by Baby Lac The Red Light District Jump Off with Disco & the City Boyz, Baby Lac, DJ Saxwell, & DJ Caesar. SATURDAY (11/19/05): Doors open at 7 PM Citrus Bowl Element Nightclub Front-Line Tailgate Party @ Gate D, 1 PM - 3:30 Confessions Model Search and college night PM. Free food & drinks. FLPromotions.com or hosted by Southstar. Music by DJ Chino and DJ FLEvents.net. D-Strong. Solo Gas Station across from the Citrus Bowl Club Whispers Tailgate party with DME, Front-Line, White Boi Up North Thursdays with Da Soul Rocka Walgee. Pizal, and DJ Slym Doors open 9 PM. Ladies no cover all night, drink free til midnight. Dress code: crispy, no white tees House of Blues and no do-rags. Ladies 18+ / Men 21+. The Official Florida Classic Afterparty / The 9th Annual Grown Folks Night. Music by DJ Bizmar- FRIDAY (11/18/05): kie and DJ Saxwell, special performance by Big Daddy Kane. 21+. Tinker Field Champ’s Sports Hip-Hop Jam: performances Tinker Field by , T-Pain, Chris Brown, Dem Franchize New Edition and Keith Sweat, 8 PM. Tickets Boyz, Boyz N Da Hood, and Teairra Mari. Gates available at FAMU, BCC, and Ticketmaster. open 7 PM / show starts 7:30 PM. Tickets at area Champ’s Sports or through FLPromotions.com Firestone Trick Daddy Block Party with DJ Nasty, DJ D- Club Whispers Strong, Sir Knight Train. No dress code, 18+. Classic Happy Hour hosted by Star 94.5. 5 - 9:30 PM. 21+. Complimentary buffet, jazz, soul. Expo Center Taste of Florida, #1 Adult Afterparty for the The Expo Center Grown & Sexy: DJ Shizm, DJ Frank Luv, and DJ The Official Classic Jam Afterparty with Teairra Dr. Doom. 21+, 10 PM - 3 AM. TheWoodEnt. Mari, T-Pain, Chingy, Chris Brown, Big Tigger, com. Free, and Melyssa Ford. Music by DJ Shizm, DJ Frank Luv, DJ 151, and DJ Double A. Ladies 18+. Roxy Nightclub 10 PM - 3 AM. The Return of Freaknik hosted by Jermaine

12 OZONE Dupri, Juvenile, Khia, Big Tigger, Thrill Da Playa and J-Blaze. Music by Clientell Party Starters, Hittmenn DJs, Cool Running CLUB CONTACT INFO: DJs, and Da Soul Rocka Walgee. www.FLEvents.com, Ticket- Annex.com, or 407-898-4004. BET Soundstage 407-934-7781 Icon Nightclub Downtown Disney Pleasure Island Saturday Night Envy with DJ Greg G and Secret Service. Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 Ladies 18+, Men 21+. Ladies 21+ get in free all night. 10 PM - 3 AM. www.DJGregG.com. The Blue Room 321-277-0412 Upper Level 17 W. Pine St. () Front-Line & DME’s Classic Joint Chiefs Jam with perfor- mances by Dem Franchize Boyz, Crime Mob, and Treal. Central Florida Fairgrounds 4903 W Colonial Dr. Tropical Magic Voice of Da Streets hosted by Smilez & Southstar. 21+, 10 Cleo’s Gentlemen’s Club PM - 4 AM. 1310 S. Orange Blossom Trail Club Whispers Classic Edition of the Velvet Rope, music by DJ Kid Capri. Club Paris Dress to impress. 407-849-0808 122 W. Church St. Metropolis Natural Mystic, Black Culture, and DJ Caesar Club Whispers 407-290-9896 ClubWhispers.net The Blue Room Music by DJ K-OZZ. 21+. Element Nightclub 407-841-1556 BET Soundstage 39 W. Pine St. Music by DJ Jimmy Jamz, 21+. 7 PM - 2 AM. Expo Center Elements Nightclub 500 W. Livingston Part 2 Edition of Sigmas Grown & Sexy Party with music by (across from TD Waterhouse) DJ Slym and DJ Hankadon. Firestone Cleo’s Gentlemen’s Club 578 N. Orange Avenue Music by Baby Lac, doors open 7 PM. 407-872-0066

SUNDAY (11/20/05): Heroes Nighclub 426 E. Kennedy 407-740-0556 Central Florida Fairgrounds The 8th Annual Classic Luau / Riding Big Car Show with House of Blues Downtown Disney Juvenile, , Jody Breeze, Maceo, Plies, Noah, and more. 407-934-BLUE Ticketmaster.com Music by The Clientell Party Starters, Hittmenn DJs, DJ Se- cret, City Boyz, Wild’n Ent, and Cool Running DJs. 3 PM - 10 PM. FLEvents.net afterparty at Heroes 10 PM - 4 AM. Icon Nightclub 407-649-6496 20 E. Central Blvd. Tinker Field Spiritual Splash Gospel extravaganza 305-300-7827 Ticket- Matrix & Metropolis Annex.com. Pointe Orlando (International Drive)

Firestone The Roxy Grand Finale with DJ Nasty, DJ Prostyle, Mr. CC & the Reg- 740 Bennett Rd. gae Ambassadors, and DJ Chino. 18+, 10 PM - 3 AM. 407-898-4004 or 321-663-9106

Cleo’s Gentlemen’s Club SKY60 Music by DJ Caesar, doors open 7 PM. 64 N. Orange Ave. 407-246-1599

Element Nightclub Tabu Nightclub Music by Murder One Sound. 407-648-8363 TabuNightclub.com 46 N. Orange Avenue BET Soundstage Music by DJ Jimmy Jamz, 21+, 7 PM - 2 AM. Tropical Magic Nightclub 801 N. John Young Parkway MONDAY (11/21/05): Zinc Bar The Blue Room 407-246-1755 TheZincBar.com Martini Mondays with music by DJ K-OZZ (Full Impact All 13 S. Orange Avenue Starz), hosted by Ricky P of 102 Jamz. Ladies free before 11:30 PM. 21+.

OZONE 13 BIG NEIL

14 OZONE here are you from? come up cause it hasn’t really been too WBorn and raised in Cincinatti. much action out of Cincinatti. We haven’t seen somebody fully blow all the way up. Since you’re reppin’ the Midwest, do you Hi-Tek doesn’t really count because he’s consider Florida a major market? mostly a beatmaker. There’s nobody on the I’m trying to make it a major market for rapper tip – we had OTR making a lot of me, cause Florida showed me so much noise in our city – but nothing love when I came down there with my CDs yet. That’s why I’m hoping to make the big to TJ’s DJ’s in Tallahassee. They keepin’ noise. There ain’t too many people that can it treal down there in Florida. They doing stop me anyway. what I like, riding on 26”s and candy paint. That’s what my city vibes on too, so yeah, Is Cincinnati more South or East coast? I’m hoping to get into Florida. It’s a nice fan We’re more South flavored. It’s guys from base, and I was feeling what they do down our city that rap East coast style, but they South. ain’t even from Cincinnati. We mainly do South and Midwest flavor. That’s all I know. How did you decide to start rapping? Actually I didn’t want to rap. I was really just What producers have you worked with? in the streets with my buddies. A couple Los Vegas runs the whole production team, guys used to come holla at me just from strictly Young and Rich. being in the game in the streets, Czar Nok. That’s the guys I’ve been rapping with for How have you been building a buzz? the longest. They’re the ones that really We been doing mixtapes since 1998, ba- pushed me to rap. I had a couple people sically underground. We were rapping on that I grew up with that wanted me to rap, other people’s beats, industry beats, and but I didn’t really take a full interest in it. I re- then we started making our own beats with ally slowed down a lil bit in the streets from Young and Rich. what I used to do. What’s your single right now? What made you decide to slow down? The first single we was tryin’ was “She Gon- I got into some trouble. Police raid, you na Put It On You.” That’s a nice club single know, it had to do with drugs. I got locked for the men and the women. Women love up for a minute. I had the money to bail out it. But we’ll probably go with “Dope Boy and wiggle a little. Gotta be able to wiggle, Music” as the first single. That’s more of a you know, or you’ll sit in there for a while. street vibe. People are catching onto that Anyway I got bailed out, spent a lot of mon- already, they loving that. ey, and ended up rapping with my man from Czar Nok. It was time to get more seri- Do you have a complete album ready? ous. The streets ain’t never left me, though. I got enough music to put together an album You can’t really get out of the streets, to tell if I wanted to. I’m hard on myself, though. I you the truth. wanna make better and better stuff.

Is that mostly what you rap about? Are you planning to put it out indie, or Yeah, things I really lived or seen. I might looking for a distribution deal? rap about what I wanna see. I might rap Just rolling with Loc Down, whatever my about cars. I always keep cars fully loaded, boss Los Vegas wants to do. He got me but besides that, I might wanna rap about shopping deals from a lot of different plac- living bigger than most of the rappers out in es like Sony and Asylum. Czar Nok is on the streets. I been living a lot of hard times. I Capitol Records so they looking at me too. make music for the Cincinnati streets. I’m gonna keep it in these streets real hard, rocking these mixtapes. We’ve already There aren’t many rappers in Cincinnati. handed out a couple hundred thousand. It ain’t too many. It’s a lot of local artists, Everything Loc Down has been doing is people from the neighborhoods and proj- free. We sponsor clubs and bring other art- ects. Czar Nok are the first ones to sign a ists to our city. We doing it right. Loc Down major deal out of Cincinnati. I’m all over is the biggest label in Cincinatti. Ain’t no their album. They worked with Hi-Tek too. other label doing it bigger than us. They He’s more like a hip-hop dude, though. I’m waiting for us to pioneer the whole thing. not really on the hip-hop tip, I’m more of a street gangster. It’s hard for our city to - Photo and words by Julia Beverly

OZONE 15 PLIES

16 OZONE hat’s been going on with you cats. If I can weed you out and feel you ain’t since signing with Slip-N-Slide? ‘bout it, I don’t fuck with you period. WJust doing my thing, man. They been having me stretched out on the road. What producers are you working with? I’ve been booked like Wednesday through I got a lot of tracks being sent over from a Sunday every week for the last couple lot of different dudes. I ain’t tryin’ to go the months. I’m jumping on this tour with Trina route that everybody takes of tryin’ to fuck and trying to finish up this new mixtape. with the big-name producers. It’s a lot of young cats out here making quality tracks, You got a nice buzz off your last mix- so I’d rather fuck with those types of dudes. tape. I ain’t tryin’ to drop 20 or 30 stacks just for Yeah, that 36 Ounces has been killing ‘em. a cosigner.

Have you collaborated with other Slip- When does your album drop? N-Slide artists yet, like Trick Daddy or We’re looking at January right now. We had Trina? to reschedule it because Trina’s album got Yeah, I’m on Trina’s record “So Fresh.” pushed back. We’re gonna shoot the video That’s on her new album. When they start- down here in Ft. Myers, so we’re looking at ed breaking that record in Miami, it was January for the actual album release date. crazy. The DJ ran it back like eight times so that was a good look. Anything else you’d like to say? The streets told me I’m the next nigga to Are there any other major artists you’ve blow on the underground level. Ain’t na’an collaborated with? nigga getting’ $5,500 a date from Wednes- Nah, man, I ain’t tryin’ to be fucked up with day til Sunday and he’s booked every day. a lot of these dudes. Me personally, it’s a It’s just a situation with me right now where handful of cats I respect in this music shit, I’m getting my shit off. I’m grinding, dawg, but it’s a lot of fuck niggas too. I don’t really just like the next nigga. I ain’t got no sad allow myself to get caught up in that whole stories about this rap shit. Everything that’s loop. I’m in a situation where I’m over there happened to me has been good. with Trick and Trina, but I’m trying to do my own thing with the following I’ve got on - Photo and words by Julia Beverly my own. The streets are fuckin’ with Plies heavy. I kinda like that look. I ain’t tryin’ to Part of this interview was also featured get caught up in having a bunch of features in the September issue of OZONE Maga- on my album. To me, that means you need zine. Visit www.ozonemag.com for sub- help. scription information.

What about when you were coming up? Who did you listen to? One thing about me is that I don’t free pro- mote none of these niggas. Whenever I get a question posed to me in terms of who I listened to or who inspires me, I don’t plug none of these dudes. As far as my style, I feel like I have my own style. I ain’t never heard nobody that sounds like me. I never allow myself to be watered down. I got a street sound. A lot of niggas claim that, but there’s different ways you could come in this shit. The radio could make you or the streets could make you. In my situation, I really feel like I’ve got a street sound. At the end of the day, I don’t think I’m no differ- ent than the next nigga down here. I’m just a dude that likes reality music. I listen to dudes whose music caters to my lifestyle. Music on the street level caters to the shit I go through every day as far as hustling and getting money. I listen to them type of

OZONE 17 SKYY HIGH

18 OZONE hat’s the difference between you I’m coming back to collaborate with a lot of and other female rappers? different Orlando artists. I wanna eventually WI’m just trying to do me. I don’t get my own label out here. SKYY wanna knock nobody and say I’m better than anybody else, but I don’t rap about After you put out this album, what’s your what most female rappers rap about. I plan? rap about situations I’ve seen and been I’m trying to get a tour together right now, HIGH through. The things I’ve been through in opening up for people and trying to get my life have definitely made me the person some exposure. It is hard to get out of Or- that I am today. lando, but I’ve been getting a lot of love from different counties and cities. I’m just Where are you from? gonna keep pushing. Wherever the spirit I’m from Orlando, Florida. Tangelo Park. leads me to go, that’s where I’ll go.

How would you describe your rap style? Anything else you’d like to say? I represent the struggle; all the women in Yeah, there’s a lot of people I’d like to shout the struggle. out, but I’ve gotta definitely make sure I mention Clark J Productions, Treal, Young You have a unique skin tone. What’s your Dirty, and Mala T, my ace boom koon. racial background? She’s putting her album together right now My father is black and my mom’s white. so look out for that. Check out www.skyy- highmusic.com, you can download and How did you hook up with R&R Re- buy my music on the website. cords? My friend’s father brought me over to the What do you want the industry to know studio and I rapped for Clark J. He was feel- about Skyy High? ing me, and I signed a deal a few days later. I’m gonna do a lot of things in the ; Clark J is my manager and producer. I have a lot of big plans. I plan to rebuild schools, buy a whole bunch of land and Are you planning to put out your album build some houses, do some things for independently or looking for a major homeless people. I plan on doing a lot deal? of good things for the community. I don’t Well, we’re looking for an investor. I don’t wanna say too much right now. I’ll show think I’m ready to leave R&R Records. I and prove. ain’t going nowhere. Your music is pretty thugged out. You What’s your ultimate goal in the indus- rap about hustling and a lot of gangsta try? stuff. I’m the only female rapper that’s not com- It’s from the heart. I saw it, I’ve done it. Ev- ing from behind a male figure in the indus- erything that’s on my album is real. Some- try. What I plan on bringing is a little bit times you go through certain situations and of light, a little bit of truth to what women live certain ways, and it’s all a part of growth go through. I’m gonna be real with it, and right now. I’m growing and there’s certain speak about what women see through our things you have to turn loose. I’m pretty eyes. sure that the things I’ve lived and talked about, there’s other women that have been A lot of female rappers have ghostwrit- through the same things. ers. Do you? No. I wrote everything on my album, Skyy’s If you had to collaborate with either Tha Limit. Trina or Jacki-O, which one would you choose? If you could be anyone else for a day, Both of them. I’m trying to collab with ev- who would you be and why? erybody. But if I had to choose one, I’d I don’t know if I could be anybody but me. probably say Trina, just because she’s That’s my answer. I’d be me. been out there for a longer span of time. I could probably really learn a lot from her Orlando’s not really a major market for experiences. I’d like to rap with her and get rap. Do you plan to change that? to know her a little bit. Man, I’ll do whatever’s necessary. If things blow up and I’m the first one to make it out, - Malik Abdul (Photo: Julia Beverly)

OZONE 19 TRIPLE J

20 OZONE hy do you call yourself Triple J? blood, and my vision started getting blurry. I Those are my initials: Johnathan couldn’t walk or talk and my voice wouldn’t WJerel Johnson. come out. I was fucked up. I kept blacking out. I told my homeboy, “Damn, I’m ‘bout Are you originally from Florida? to die, man.” My homeboy Johnny Dixon Yeah, I was living in California for about a saved my life. He kept slapping me and year, but I’m originally from Riviera Beach, was like, “I ain’t gonna let you go, nigga.” Florida, in Palm Beach County. My homeboys got me to the hospital and I was in there for like two months. You were originally signed to Def Jam South, right? How did you hook that up? Was it a wakeup call? Yeah, actually walked me in. I met Definitely. Things didn’t get easier after that, ‘Face through Tone , in Oakland, though. My life was in so much chaos. The CA. He was the producer for the Luniz’ “I deeper you dig yourself a hole, the harder it Got Five On It” and he did a lot of tracks for is to get back out. I’m still trying to get back Scarface’s album. Me and Tone were work- out of that hole. ing on an album together, so I came across ‘Face. Since we shared producers, he got So you’ve got a new single, “Boy Shorts,” interested me and we just clicked up. This produced by Jim Jonsin? was back in ’96. Yeah, that’s what the radio wants to hear. That ain’t my type of shit, but we gonna So when ‘Face left, you left too? play ball. I like street shit, reality rap, but Yeah, when ‘Face left, the deal just fell apart. this is for the radio. I don’t even go to the They didn’t wanna release me though. strip clubs. That ain’t my cup of tea. They were trying to put me on the shelf. I was stuck at Def Jam for two years. I had to I’ve heard people compare you to Emi- fight my way out of it. nem. Do you think that’s accurate? I don’t think that’s accurate, but I’ll take that Are you bitter because of the Def Jam as a compliment. To me, is a lyrical situation? genius. But I think we’re coming from two Oh, I’m definitely bitter. My career was at a different angles. I do like to put humor into standstill, and that forced me to get back my raps, though. No matter how serious in the streets. In the process, I almost lost something is, you should always be able to my life. I wouldn’t have been out there do- find humor in it. ing what I was doing if Def Jam was doing what they were supposed to be doing. I got Did you find humor in getting shot? plenty of animosity. I don’t care who’s run- Me and my homeboys laugh all the time ning their shit. Fuck ‘em all. about who had the most bitch in ‘em. We laugh about who was hollerin’ the loudest. How did you almost lose your life? I got shot about a year and a half ago. I got When is your album coming out? shot in my main artery, the one that goes My mixtape Street Science is coming soon, through your right thigh. I lost 50% of the and I’ve got Big Scale Entertainment with blood in my body. my homeboys Pupp and Tech. The album, MLK Boulevard, is coming early 2006. Look Was it rap beef or street beef? out for that single “What the Lick Read.” It was street beef, but that nigga’s dead now. Anything else you’d like to say? Shout out to Bigga Rankin, I love that nigga What was going through your mind when to death. That’s the realest DJ doing this you got shot? shit. Shout out to Big Shife and Papa Duck, Shit, man. It was a drive-by. When I first got two of the hottest producers in Florida. hit, I didn’t feel the pain. My body was in Shout out to 21 Reese, Frank Luv, and Daw- shock. It was there of us that got hit, me gman Entertainment. If there’s anybody I and two of my homeboys. We was check- forgot to mention, they must not be doing ing each other to make sure everybody the right thing. Check out my website www. was okay. It didn’t seem serious at first, just triplejmusic.com. Log on it, doggone it! a leg wound. We were actually laughing. For booking call Pupp at 561-718-9682. Then I started getting weaker. I didn’t know he had hit that artery. I was losing a lot of - Photo and words by Julia Beverly

OZONE 21 ADEPT

22 OZONE ou used to be in a group called I can’t speak about something I haven’t DOA. What’s been going on with done. I mean, I talk gangsta cause it was Yyou since DOA? a point in my life where I did certain things A whole lot of shit. A lot of connects, just that got me here. I’m just telling my story, ADEPT tryin’ to come up. I’m finishing up my solo from rock bottom, to the road to riches, to album now; it’s starting to look real good. where I’m headed now. It’s time to come up. It’s just so different. I speak about a So with the DOA situation, everybody lot of pain. There’s a larger percentage of just went their separate ways? people in America that have been at rock Yeah, that’s what happened. Everybody bottom than there is people that’s making had to do their own thing, and Chino de- money and flossing with women and ice. cided to fuck with me and do it that way. Ev- I’d rather talk to the people nobody else is erybody started doing their own shit. We’re talking to, the everyday people. still fam though, we’re still cool. Who else is featured on the album be- What’s the name of your album? sides Pitbull? I called it Rock Bottom for many reasons. I’ve got Akon on the album. I’m work- First of all, it’s like the beginning, my first ing on a couple other features but I don’t album. I’m starting at the bottom. Also be- wanna say their names yet cause they not cause it reflects a lot on my lifestyle. I ain’t solid yet. I worked with a lot of producers never had shit. I’ve been homeless, all too, like Jim Beans and Scram Jones and types of shit. That’s where I’m starting out Nasty Beatmakers. Nasty’s a big part of the from, letting everybody know my story. album. It’s still a work in progress but the largest chunk of the album is done. And your single is “Let Them Thangs Go,” with Pitbull, right? Are you going Are you planning on putting out the al- for the Latino crowd? bum indie? Yeah, definitely. They feeling that Pitbull We’re in talks with a couple labels, but joint. They love that shit. nothing solid. You always wanna wait for the best offer, but at the same time, we’re Do you plan on branching off into reg- not gonna let the music sit. If it comes to a gaetone at all? point where we gotta put it out, we’ll do it Yeah, I fuck with it a little, just because I indie ourselves, OMG. It’s not a problem. can. But it’s not my main thing, it’s not re- But we’re trying to see what our options are. ally what I do. The album should be finished by the end of 2005, and out by summer 2006 if we play But your style is more hip-hop, right? A it right. Right now we’re just accumulating lot of people compare you to Big Pun. BDS spins and going everywhere, just ban- Yeah, I would say so. I get a lot of com- gin’ the record to see what happens. By the parisons to Pun, because we’re both big time the album’s ready to come out, hope- dudes, but what we talk about is different. fully they’ll be able to recognize me. “That’s the cat that has the joint with Pitbull.” Do you think that Big Pun’s passing was kinda overshadowed by Tupac and Big- Why did you call your label OMG – Ozone gie? Music Group? Yeah, yeah. It kinda faded out because the It’s definitely a separate venture [from game has changed so much since when Ozone Magazine], but we both started here he was doing it. If he was around, he’s still in Orlando – Ozone. We’re letting people obviously be a key player in the game, but know where we’re coming from. I got to rep since he’s not, it seems like people forgot. Orlando. I lived in Kissimmee and Poinci- ana too, but Orlando is home. How is your content different than Big Pun’s was? Do you have any shout outs? Just what we talk about. My story is totally Pee Wee Kirkland, Pitbull, Hittmenn DJs, All different. He was killin’ niggas at that time Pro, Nasty Beatmakers, everybody in the O. period. Hip-hop was so different then. It was all about lyrical skill. Now it’s all about How could someone contact you? that real talk and what you’re gonna do. Hit me up at [email protected]. This game is so different now. I guess I’m an upgrade. I speak about life in general. - Photo and words by Julia Beverly

OZONE 23

UNDERDAWGS

26 OZONE ho are the Underdawgs? some real subjects. We ain’t gonna kill no- Three people. We got Owe Jive, body on this album. We’re basically just the UNDERDAWGS WBig Stupid, and Squid Go Yam. guys in your neighborhood that everybody can relate to. The same Owe Jive who did the original “My Neck, My Back” before Khia? What’s the name of the album? Yeah, the original Owe Jive. Ghetto Heroes. “Run It Back” is the lead single, but every song on there could be How did the three of you meet? a single. If we dropped a single every six Squid: We’re all from Tampa, and we’ve months, we’ve got seven years worth of been friends for a while. I used to do pro- material that everybody is gonna love. motions when Owe Jive had “My Neck, My Back,” and Big Stupid was one of my Are you planning on putting it out your- promotions people on my team. We made self, or trying to get distribution through such a good combination that we started a major? doing shows together and put a group to- We’ve already obtained distribution. The gether. only thing we’re doing is running the clock down to get us through the fourth quarter. What do you think about the “Tampa We’re going through Attitude Music Distri- curse” – everybody who blows up out of bution, which is basically a step up from Tampa becomes a one-hit wonder? Select-O-Hits. They work with the Select- They didn’t have the right people to push O-Hits network without being exclusive to them on the promotions side. We’re gonna Select-O-Hits. get it right. We won the Super Bowl and the Stanley Cup, but we don’t have a big rap- What about production? Who did you per. That’s about to change. We know all work with? about the “curse,” but it’s only for individu- We used a lot of Tampa producers. We als. We want to stay as far away from that were really trying to capture the sound and as possible, that’s why we put three people make sure that Tampa got its just due this together. time. We want to make sure we don’t fall into the whole one-hit-wonder thing. A lot What kinds of things do you rap about? of records that blew up in Tampa didn’t We talk about having fun. You only live get promoted like they should on the busi- once. We make adrenaline music. May the ness end. Our squad handles business: funk be with you, man! We have to keep the Amp, C. Wakeley, and Cee Jay. We could club pumpin’, but we come from different do a bigger and better job. Sometimes you perspectives. All the songs on the album don’t need features from a major artist. We could be played in the club or in the car. used a lot of local artists who never had a And there’s a dance for our single “Run It chance. Now they’re getting a chance to Back,” too. shine, like bling bling. We worked with a lot of Tampa legends. So you guys are entertainers as well as rappers. Your single “Run It Back” is doing well. Yeah, you know, Owe Jive is a comedian. Yeah, the record is already getting airplay Most groups that form have a lot in com- in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. We’re mon, but we’re just so different and eclec- starting to do shows, and we’ll be shoot- tic. We all have the same goals but we’re ing a video for the song before the end of different types of artists. I think that’ll add the year. We really wanna push the “Run a lot to the music. The problem is that a lot It Back” dance, because it’s on course to of Tampa artists come with the same type do what a lot of other Tampa records did. of music. We’re not the guys with pistols But we’re gonna have the business behind or guns, we’re the ones with garbage cans this record to make sure we get in the red and big speakers. May the funk be with you. zone. We just keep going at it and add some stuff for inspiration. You only live once. We make Anything else you’d like to say? happy music, and we’re very versatile. Special thanks to C. Wakeley. You can con- We’re not just booty-shaking for the clubs, tact us through Big Amp at 813-917-3579 but we still have that true Tampa sound. We or [email protected]. reached a little bit. The whole album isn’t just 136 beats per minutes. We touched on - Julia Beverly (Photo: Big Cee Jay)

OZONE 27

Where are you from? Are you planning to sign with a major? Bradenton, Florida. I’ve been rapping for six years. I’m trying to keep it indie for now. How would you describe your style? What’s your affiliation with C Wakely? Gangsta. Real. Basically I rap about the typical things. C Wakeley is good friends with my manager Don- Cars, money, women. ald Ted Smith. They were buddies a long time ago, so we hooked up. Wakeley’s a good dude, So what makes you different from other rappers? so y’all indies need to mess with him. My voice. I sound like me, but if I had to compare to another rapper, I’d probably say Trick Daddy. What’s the difference between Tampa music and Bradenton music? How did you start creating a buzz for yourself? No disrespect to Tampa, but Bradenton’s got its I did some mixtapes and I was with a group called IBC own flavor. It’s a little more street than Tampa. back home. We were pretty popular in the neighbor- There ain’t too many people in Bradenton doing hood. We had a hot song called “Oooh, shit!” club songs like they do in Tampa. You could tell Tampa music right away, but you know, the guys Why did you decide to go solo? that’s rapping in Bradenton, you can’t really tell I got in a little trouble and had to do some jail time. where they’re from. They went their way and I went my way. I was in jail for about ten months back in 2002, for simple battery. Will it be hard to be the first to break through? Nah. You gotta know how to hustle, and I know While you were in jail, did you have the chance to how to hustle. That’s what it’s all about. You gotta hone your rap skills? be able to grind and stay motivated. I like to win, Yeah, I wrote about 500 songs while I was in jail, and I don’t like to lose. when I got out we put them in the streets. Do you have any shoutouts? So it inspired you? My manager Donald Ted Smith, C Wakeley, and Yeah. See, I was the money behind the IBC group. We their families. My number one DJ Big Dawg and thinking about doing a group project again but I don’t the Buc City DJs, the whole Florida, Manatee know when. Hopefully in the summer of 2006. County. What’s your current project? How can someone I’m dropping the Million Dollar Man album in January, contact you? putting it out independently in FYE and other stores. Check me out at www. Cartel4Life.com, email Who’s featured on the album? me at Chill2Hot@aol. BloodRaw and Tom G are on the single “Bop Wit It.” com, or for booking call Smoke from , Mr. Magic, , 334 941-773-7878 or 352- Mobb and a lot of my local homeboys are on there. 246-4495. Dimensional Sounds out of Tampa produced most of the album.