REAL, RAW, & UNCENSORED WEST COAST RAP SHIT

TURF TALK BEEDA WEEDA CLYDE CARSON MAC MALL DAMANI & MORE

BAY AREA AMBASSADOR E-40 LIVIN’ A BOSS’ LIFE

* WEST COAST DJs SOUND OFF ON MIXTAPE DRAMA * THE GAME’S* BUMSQUAD’S BROTHER LATIN BIG& MORE FASE100PRINCE  // OZONE WEST Publisher editor’s note Julia Beverly

Editor-In-Chief N. Ali Early

Music Editor Randy Roper

Art Director Tene Gooden

Contributors D-Ray DJ BackSide Joey Colombo Toby Francis Wendy Day

Street Reps Anthony Deavers Bigg P-Wee Dee1 Demolition Men DJ E-Z Cutt DJ Jam-X DJ K-Tone DJ Quote MUST BE DREAMIN’ DJ Strong & DJ Warrior John Costen Kewan Lewis Lisa Coleman Maroy been living in Atlanta a good decade and I still haven’t gotten completely accus- Rob J Official tomed to it, nor have I embraced it all the way. What can I say? I’m a Bayboy to the Rob Reyes heart. Anyone who knows me, knows that I rep the Bay – all day, every day. I went Sherita Saulsberry homeI’ve for Xmas and all I could think about was what kind of Bay Tees I was gonna snatch so I could have William Major the option of reppin’ my soil every day for two weeks straight (that’s 14, but who’s counting?). Took Moms in there and scooped about eight of ‘em REAL QUICK (already had 6). Alas, I didn’t leave my heart in San Francisco ala Tony Bennett. It’s somewhere in Tha Rich!

But I gotta love the A and I gotta give JB props for bringing me on board, ‘cause without the move from Orlando this opportunity may have never cracked off. I’d prolly still be SLIPPIN’ at some dead end publication that can’t afford to pay its employees or contractors… and I’da stayed, tryna make ends meet, ignoring the truth ‘cause I love what I do. But I’m not. I’M HERE.

Funny how the world works. The day I walked in JB told me about OZONE West and I damn near lost my top. When I told our cover subject, E-40 (BOSS HOGG, pg. 12), he simply responded, “I know you be representin’.” Upon unwinding over a couple glasses of Merlot, his attention turned to his cousin – BARS ozone west Awards Rookie of the Year Turf Talk (FROM THE SOUL, pg. 21) – and the hyphy movement of course. But don’t be misled. This issue ain’t all Bay. Big Fase 100 (STEADY MOBBIN’, pg. 22) holds it down for the 4 the west is backside streets of Compton and the hottest DJs on the Coast express their feelings for Drama and Cannon’s (MIX- 5-11 PHOTO GALLERIES TAPE DRAMA, pg. 20) recent brush with the law. 6 hustlin’: latin prince 8 patiently waiting: clyde carson 10 patiently waiting: beeda weeda GET READY. This is just the beginning. 12-14 e-40 16-20 west coast dj section 20 MIXTAPE DRAMA 21 turf talk 22-23 big fase N. Ali Early 24 mac mall OZONE WEST 25 cd reviews Editor 26 end zone: the pack

OZONE WEST //  THE WEST IS BACK... SIDE!!! The Bay Area’s DJ BackSide links up with the Best of the West to see what’s really goin’ on in their heads!

DAMANI his month, I traveled down the coast of California to Los Angeles to speak with the Mayor of Inglewood himself, Damani. With a song on TSnoop’s Blue Carpet Treatment and more projects in the kitchen to be released on Snoop’s label, Damani is servin’ up the real. Here, he reveals that he does in fact have love for New York and he also believes Michael Jackson can come back despite his daycare dilemma. He keeps us up on the new West Coast slang, unleashing the new word for “groupie” in the 2007. Get ready, a player is in the building.

BS: So I first heard you on the Keak Da Sneak record, “Gotta Stay Paid.” What’s your connect to the Bay Area? Damani: Well yeah, I first heard of the “Super Hyphy” record by Keak and I just wanted to get down wit’ dude. I like who I like, and he GO. You know, Marlo Stansfield on these hoes.

BS: And this groupie song you got with E-40? BS: I’m ashamed to say I’ve never watched it. Damani: Yeah, you see we lettin’ the word groupie go for the 2007. They are Damani: Well you’re missin’ a big part of the culture right now. That shit is now called “Degos” (pronounced Day-go). real. The actors – them muthafuckas be playin’ they parts to the T. Period.

BS: Degos? BS: And what about the Mixtape Game? The DJ Drama DRAMA? Damani: Yeah, them girls who see all the stars in the club and be pointin’ Damani: I mean, it was only a matter of time, especially when niggas get on when they see someone famous. You know, “[Day-go] Snoop, ay [Day-go] the record talkin’ bout makin’ $100,000 off mixtapes. Not sayin’ they they Damani, ay [Day-go] Kobe.” Feel me? ‘‘Degos.” They them girls that be poin- were, but these dudes [the Feds] are listenin’ to all of that shit. It’s like the tin’ everyone out in the clubs and shit. Nas video “Hip Hop Is Dead”, when they get raided. The game’s changing. It’s like the DJ is their own separate record label now. You gotta pay the DJ BS: Everyone talks about L.A. first and foremost when it comes to the west. and shit. So Mr. Inglewood, is the West back? Damani: Yeah, definitely. We are rebuilding right now. Beef is bein’ worked BS: I hear you, if you look at it like that. Everything is changing anyways. I out, we are startin’ to move as a whole unit now. Groups like the Warzone mean, look at you. While we are doing this interview you’re on Myspace. and the Western Union are with Snoop’s label now and we are uniting as one. It’s just some hustlin’ we doin’. I signed with Columbia first and I’m keepin’ Damani: Yup, this shit is all in your own hands now. [Leans over to look it goin’ with some more situations. Snoop’s helpin’ out with my album called closely at his computer screen] Damn, she is thick. Jesus….!!!!! Yeah, any- Congratulations Player. You like that? ways. Music? Online? It’s gonna be go online for everything. EVERYTHING.

BS: The title? BS: Yup, even for Michael Jackson’s music. Damani: Yeah, [suavely and slowly] Congratulations Player. Damani: What?

BS: Um, I don’t know you like that to be making such affirmations. BS: Yeah, Michael is back from exile and he’s gonna leak his singles on Damani: Mmmhmmmm… I love when people doubt me. myspace first. You didn’t hear? Okay, just kidding. But he did go into exile. Damani: I mean, who even knew he left? I never even seen the nigga in my BS: American Idol is a huge show these days. You like it? life. So, who knows? Damani: I don’t watch it, not really, unless it happens to be on. BS: Well, he’s back in the studio with Will.I.Am. Do you think he can come BS: Not even for mean-ass Simon or drunk-ass Paula? back? Damani: Being an African-American Idol, I already feel like I’m being Damani: Yeah, if R Kelly can, of course Michael Jackson can. If Michael does watched. play with kids, at least it ain’t on tape. R. Kelly pissed on girls and ON TAPE and we saw him! Like, the piss was runnin’ down on the girl’s titties! If R. BS: Riiiiiiiiight. So do you think a Rap American Idol would work? Kelly can make a record after that and everyone from age 3 to 93 is two- Damani: Yeah, I think so, cause all these little shows they doin’ now like “The steppin’ in the club right after that – miracles can happen. Anybody can do White Rapper Show” are such a mockery and so fuckin’ stupid. It’s really like anything. they are givin’ the fans a chance. It’s just entertainment and comedy. It’s comedy. That’s exactly what it is. BS: Boxers or Briefs? Damani: Boxers, briefs. Hell, it’s all comin’ off anyways. BS: Speaking of comedy, do you got love for New York? Damani: I think I can make some money with her. She’s got a professionalism The Big Squeeze compilation drops in March 2007 and features Damani about herself. That could turn into a very lucrative business in the streets. and his group Western Union (Superfly and Badluck), The Warzone, Snoop, I feel like she has those type of qualities. I mean, I have love for what she Badazz, Kurupt JT The Bigga Figga and more. Cop that! The West is Back could be under my tutelage. You get me? Bitches.

BS: [laughing] Yeah, I got that. I’m sure everyone else will too. So what Also check out: www.myspace.com/damanila would Damani’s reality show be called? “The Player’s Life” or something? Damani: I like how you said that with so much conviction. Say it again. Either See you all every month here in the West Coast section of Ozone Magazine that or “The Hustler’s Life.” I mean, the player aspect of it is just a way to hounding the best West Coast DJs, producers, and more! Holla at your girl: maneuver your way through the game. But man, I watch “The Wire” for reals. www.djbackside.com or [email protected]

 // OZONE WEST CALIFORNIA LOVE WEST COAST PHOTO GALLERIES

03 // Too $hort & the Up All Nite girls 05 // Akon & Devyne Stephens 02 // Slim Thug & Boss Hogg Outlawz @ Magic Convention (Las Vegas, NV)07 // B of The Pack @ Silence10 // R&Bthe Twins 04 // Chingy, Bow Wow, & Lloyd @ the Aladdin for All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 12 // Daron of DJ D-Wrek & E-40 @ Warner Bros party (Los Angeles, CA) Ya Boy & Rick Lee @ Warner Bros party (Los Angeles, CA Bun 01 // 06 // Bernard Hopkins & Polow @ the Aladdin09 for // All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 14 // @ for the Up All Nite All Star weekend party (Las Vegas, NV) @ the Aladdin for All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 11 // Killa Kiese & Messy Marv @13 Everette // Mistah & FABJones & yellowfor Guce’s bus listeningfans @ a partyfrat party (Oakland, (Berkeley, CA) CA) 08 // Tity Boy & Baby @ the Aladdin for All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) Guest, Traxamillion, & Dem HoodstarzDJ K-Tone @ MGM & Lil for Scrappy the Up Violence (Oakland, CA) 16 // 18 // 21 // with DJ Paul on the set of Chamillionaire’s video (Los Angeles, CA) 15 // Fly & B-Luv @ Silence the Violence (Oakland, CA) 23 // Timbaland & his publicist 112 & Jermaine Dupri @ Pacific Theater for Jermaine GaryDupri’s Archer, Pre-Grammy Mistah FAB, party & Scoot(Los Angeles,2 @ Club CA)2 Fanatics0 // Big Richfor New & Devo Years @ EveClub (San Fanatics Francisco, for New CA) Years Eve (San Francisco, CA) B & Freekey Zekey @ Magic Convention (Las Vegas, 17 // NV) All Nite All Star weekend19 party // Echo (Las Hattix Vegas, & KevinNV) Black @ Warner Bros party (Los Angeles, CA) (Colorado Springs, CO) 22 // Gary LaRochelle & Jimmy Cozier @ Pacific Theater for Jermaine Dupri’s Pre-Grammy party (Los Angeles, CA) Spice 1 & Beno (Las Vegas, NV) @ Angel’s (San Jose, CA) Beno (21); D-Ray (01,07,09,11,13,15,17,19,20,23); DJ K-Tone (18); Julia Beverly (02,03,04,05,06,08,12,14,16,22); New Money Records (10) Photo Credits: OZONE WEST //  hustlin’ A Prince Among DJs By Wendy Day from Rap Coalition

Latin Prince just might be the hardest work- Since growing out of his position in radio, Latin Prince ing man in show business. He does so many differ- tried his luck with HITS. ent things. But he’s a DJ first! He is the guy behind the scenes moving in silence giving back to Hip Hop Latin Prince boasts following a five year plan that he because the music has blessed him so. follows strictly. Over the years in the industry he flew himself to every convention to meet other DJs and Prince started the Bum Squad DJz because DJs are the industry folks. The grind proved heavy but successful backbone of the music industry and he wanted to set as he built powerful relationships in the process. up an organization for the DJs that would serve as a music mentorship program or school, as opposed to In accepting the position as Associate Mix Show Editor just a DJ crew. “It’s not about the bling. There has to at HITS, Prince acknowledges knowing nothing about be more substance!” says Latin Prince, who is called LP magazines or writing. English wasn’t even his first by his close friends. language. Even still, he moved to L.A. in May of 1997 under the tutelage of Ricky Leigh. After adjusting Bum Squad, established in 2004, now boasts a mem- to the written word LP and Leigh moved to promote bership of around 120 official members and hosts a records. The transition proved a good one as Prince, hot website – www.Bumsquaddjz.com - that gets over after five years at HITS, was recruited by Troy Marshall 20 million hits a year. “We were the first to launch a from MCA to promote their records exclusively. sound bank online at bumsquadddjz.com,” he informs. “It’s the first spot on the Internet for DJs to download songs from a digital After MCA folded, LP opened his own marketing and promo company – Urban record pool. Now we have over 10,000 registered users at New Music Studio Jungle Music. He worked as a consultant for TVT and was eventually earned Reloaded (the sound bank).” The message board is also an outstanding re- a staff position, where he ultimately broke artists such as Lil Jon, Pitbull source and “a world of its own. It’s a great way to see what DJs are thinking and Ying Yang Twins. Years later, Marshall moved to reassemble the team at and how they feel.” Universal Records, where LP went on to become National Director of Mix Show Promotions for the West Coast, a position he maintains to the day. New Music Studio Reloaded is a very popular extension through the Bum Squad DJz’ site. Reggaeton is so big it required a separate Reggaeton All Stars “TVT taught me how to break new records and MCA taught me how to work sound bank. They’re about to launch one for the mash up DJs as well. LP loves a handful of records at one time. Now I’m applying everything I learned to mash ups and offers a bi-weekly radio show featuring the top Bums DJs who my job at Universal,” Prince reflects. “Our conversations are more than just, subscribe to that genre, on Sirius’ channel 50 (Hot Jamz; Ch 50). ‘Hey, can you put this record in the mix?’ I talk with my DJs about life and real issues.” “Mash Ups are growing in popularity and Reggaeton is holding steady,” LP reveals. “In New York, Miami and L.A., reggaeton is still huge. Women love With a full time job at Universal and running one of the biggest DJ organi- reggaeton, especially in L.A. So it’s still heavy in the clubs. Mash Ups are zations in the country, one has to wonder how Latin Prince finds balance. starting to get heavy in the clubs especially in Las Vegas. It’s a mash up of “The business strains loving relationships,” he offers, revealing a crumbled people, so why wouldn’t it be a mash up of music? A hot Hip Hop vocal over marriage. “Time and traveling takes a toll on relationships. Achieving balance an AC/DC track, for example. It’s getting very interesting.” is tough. You gotta work at it. It’s a full time job. You already have a full time job and then making a relationship work is also hard work. Although my mar- So what makes Latin Prince want to devote so much time to setting up the riage didn’t last, I do know people in the industry who’ve made relationships Bum Squad DJz? “I want to show the DJs more,” he persists. “I’m busting my work. But it’s hard. balls to be different. I’m unique and showing that through our annual con- vention, which is more of a family reunion with a teaching component.” “Late nights at the office and a rigorous work travel schedule. You give up some things in return for others. It’s so hard. How much time and energy you So successful in his grind, for so long, this 38 year-old Latino is eager to put into your relationship is how it’ll succeed. But it takes two people to make share his secrets of success with others. “Never be afraid to ask for help,” he it work. Some partners think, ‘I don’t want to have this kind of lifestyle,’ but insists. “Utilize your relationships, because the industry is based on that. Give some can ride it out. The key is to choose a partner who can ride it out.” to people and ask for help when you need it. Help each other. People want to help. They just need to know what you need. Spread knowledge and let To escape the pressures of work LP rides his Harley with industry guys on people know what you are doing.” Sundays whenever he can find the time. “Personal time is key,” he says. “You have to make the time. My life is very structured. It’s scheduled tightly and Latin Prince’s industry beginnings unfolded in the Bay Area at only fifteen mapped out so I can accomplish everything.” He sticks to his schedule like years old. As a kid he pretended to be a radio DJ with his mom’s old beat up most workaholics do. We laugh over the fact that he enjoys looking back at turntable, broadcasting to his living room that he would one day take part in the end of the week and saying, “What a crazy week!! But it feels goooooood.” the coveted art form. He grew up in Nicaragua (just hearing him say the word is poetry) and then moved with his Mother to San Francisco. DJing kept him LP spends a lot of time DJing in Europe, Croatia in particular, where there is away from street drama and out of trouble during his teen years, while his a huge Hip Hop scene. And Bum Squad now has its own a magazine in the US mother motivated him to do well in school by taking away his turntables if and recently launched a Hip Hop magazine in Croatia (Bums Magazine). Latin his grades slipped. Needless to say, it was a great motivation tool. Prince loves to DJ overseas because “the way they take care of the DJ over- seas is how they should do it here. The respect and love is incredible. DJs are Like many DJs, Prince started out holding down house parties and eventually out here in the US struggling. They are always one step away from being on blossomed into one of the more recognizable club DJs in the Bay, spinning the street. We are bums—that’s where the name Bum Squad DJz comes from. for crowds of 2,000 to 4,000 people. He was discovered by Alex Mejia, the Music Director and a radio DJ at KMEL in the early 90s. The grind of balancing “The Bums office is opening in the UK this year. We focus on worldwide as op- club DJing and radio DJing wore on him, but he persevered and learned by posed to just local US DJs. There’s also an Asia tour coming this year. We have doing. He often took a ribbing from other radio DJs, but he adjusted and grew a huge worldwide vision. I want my DJs to see what I’ve seen. DJs are stars quickly, staying at radio for over 7 years. He had a hugely popular mix show around the world, so we’re building internationally. I’m working steadily and at KMEL, which is the third or fourth largest (listeners wise) in the country. quietly. I’m on some next shit.” And after all, isn’t that what it’s all about? //

 // OZONE WEST CALIFORNIA LOVE WEST COAST PHOTO GALLERIES

03 // Carlito, Shawty, Yung 05 // Duquan Brown, 02 // Slick Pulla & Young Jeezy @ Magic Convention (Las Vegas, NV) 06 // Mistah FAB, guest, & Mitchy09 Slick // Coach @ the Reggie Luxor PRduring & 04 // Rihanna & Bow Wow @ Pacific Theater for Jermaine Dupri’s Pre-Grammy party (Los Angeles,11 // Messy CA) Marv & Tuff @ Mac 01 // Mac Mall, Rick Lee, & J-Diggs @ Mac Mall’s listening party (Richmond, CA) 08 // Freestyle Steve & Too $hort @ Angel’s (San Jose, CA) Joc, & Miss B @ Alexis Park Resort (Las Vegas, NV) 13 // Dolla, Booka B, Messy Marv, & Looney @ Bavgate & PSD Tha Drivah @ Wildcard Tyrese, Debra Lee, guest, 07 & Kenny// Yung Burns Joc & @ Rick Pacific Ross Theater@ Alexis for Park 10Jermaine Resort// Traxamillion (LasDupri’s Vegas, Pre-Grammy& Maki NV) @ Club party Fanatics (Los Angeles,for New YearsCA) Eve (San Francisco,15 // CA) All Star (Las Vegas, NV) Sha Money XL @ Icehouse Lounge for All12 //Star Bizmarkie, (Las Vegas, CoCo, NV) & IceThe T Clipse @ Icehouse & Nelly Lounge @ the Aladdinduring Allfor Star All Starweekend17 //weekend Young (Las Jeezy (LasVegas, Vegas, & TrinaNV) NV) @ Icehouse Lounge for All Star (Las Vegas, NV) 14 // 19 // John Costen & Bohagon @ Warner Bros party (Los Angeles, Mall’s listening party (Richmond, CA) 22 // Play & Skillz @ Magic Convention (Las Vegas, NV) Everette & Jones for Guce’s listening party (Oakland, CA) 16 // Too $hort & Up All Nite girls @ Club Fanatics for New Years Eve (San Francisco, CA) (Oakland, CA) 21 // Lil Chris & Lil Scrappy @ Warner Bros party (Los Angeles, CA) 18 // Busta Rhymes, & DJ Miltikit @ Pacific Theater for Jermaine Dupri’s Pre-Grammy party (Los Angeles, CA) CA) 20 // DJ K-Tone & crew @ Blue Ice (Denver, CO)

Photo Credits: D-Ray (01,08,10,11,13,15,16,19,21); DJ K-Tone (20); Julia Beverly (02,03,04,05,06,07,09,14,17,18,22); Malik Abdul (12)

OZONE WEST //  But it’s a good look. It’s a challenge.”

Worthy of a major label deal, but grounded enough to know when to accept the right offer, Beeda is content moving his product with Clear Label and his BALANCE & OPTIONS own PTB Records.

) and ive years ago he might have never imagined thatTurfology he’d have 101 a series “This music shit ain’t nothin’ to me,” he says. “I spit this shit out everyday. // of mixtapes under his belt, a solid first album ( I’m pushin’ this independent game. That’s why I feel blessed to come from a heavily anticipated follow-up that has West Coast A&Rs salivating the Bay. If it comes I’ll take it, but I ain’t trippin’ off no majors right now.” Fat the thought of signing him as a rap artist. Beeda Weeda started out his Words by N. Ali Early industry trek as a producer. So logically, when it came time to hit the streets Photo by D-Ray with a bumble they couldn’t do without, he made it himself. For his trouble, Beeda’s “Turf’s Up” is in rotation on stations like KMEL and KYLD and the remix says the whole Bay is behind him – for obvious reasons.

“I just do me,” Beeda says matter-of-factly. “I come from the streets of Oakland so the whole hood got me and the whole hood is the niggas that helped me get where I’m at.”

Signed to Hieroglyphics’ Clear Label Records, Beeda believes that such an opportunity wouldn’t have materialized had his folks not been with him from the start. As a youth who’s- seen the music industry borrow trends, vernac ular and the like from his stomping grounds, Beeda is quick to recognize his own struggle and the key components within. “How I got my name out there, it was me and my niggas from the hood comin’ together,” he explains. “Niggas put they money in, got to bouncin’ in these wrapped vehicles, goin’ out of state, givin’ away CDs, and we got our own studio. So I got a lot of love from the community of Oakland and Oakland got a lot of influence over the Bay.”

A product of East Oakland, Beeda is an old 23 years, as composed and confident as they- come. His content, most notably on the afore mentioned “Turfs Up,” portrays all the street elements that helped make him the man he is today. In the aftermath, he’s earned regional radio spins two years after its initial release and a remix that includes Bay Area heavy hitters E-40, San Quinn and Too $hort, among others. Still, Beeda’s approach has raised eyebrows among tastemakers, particularly because of the label he’s signed to.

“[My label] represents a whole different side, so it’s a trip how we fuck with each other,” Beeda explains. “They handle they square business and that’s the type of shit we need to know so we can build our company. But good music is good music. A lot of critics be tough on me when they see I’m on Hiero. They see me there and they think I’m finna come this way when I’m comin’ on some street shit. So they try to say my lyrics ain’t complex enough.

 // OZONE WEST CALIFORNIA LOVE WEST COAST PHOTO GALLERIES

But it’s a good look. It’s a challenge.”

Worthy of a major label deal, but grounded enough to know when to accept the right offer, Beeda is content moving his product with Clear Label and his BALANCE & OPTIONS own PTB Records.

) and ive years ago he might have never imagined thatTurfology he’d have 101 a series “This music shit ain’t nothin’ to me,” he says. “I spit this shit out everyday. // of mixtapes under his belt, a solid first album ( I’m pushin’ this independent game. That’s why I feel blessed to come from a heavily anticipated follow-up that has West Coast A&Rs salivating the Bay. If it comes I’ll take it, but I ain’t trippin’ off no majors right now.” Fat the thought of signing him as a rap artist. Beeda Weeda started out his Words by N. Ali Early industry trek as a producer. So logically, when it came time to hit the streets Photo by D-Ray with a bumble they couldn’t do without, he made it himself. For his trouble, Beeda’s “Turf’s Up” is in rotation on stations like KMEL and KYLD and the remix says the whole Bay is behind him – for obvious reasons.

“I just do me,” Beeda says matter-of-factly. “I come from the streets of Oakland so the whole hood got me and the whole hood is the niggas that helped me get where I’m at.”

Signed to Hieroglyphics’ Clear Label Records, Beeda believes that such an opportunity wouldn’t have materialized had his folks not been with him from the start. As a youth who’s- seen the music industry borrow trends, vernac ular and the like from his stomping grounds, Beeda is quick to recognize his own struggle and the key components within. “How I got my name out there, it was me and my niggas from the hood comin’ together,” he explains. “Niggas put they money in, got to bouncin’ in these wrapped vehicles, goin’ out of state, givin’ away CDs, and we got our own studio. So I got a lot of love from the community of Oakland and Oakland got a lot of influence over the Bay.”

A product of East Oakland, Beeda is an old 23 years, as composed and confident as they- come. His content, most notably on the afore mentioned “Turfs Up,” portrays all the street elements that helped make him the man he is today. In the aftermath, he’s earned regional radio spins two years after its initial release and a remix that includes Bay Area heavy hitters E-40, San Quinn and Too $hort, among others. Still, Beeda’s approach has raised - eyebrows among tastemakers, particularly because of the label he’s signed to. 05 // DJ Black & DJ Big Dee @ Alexis 02 // Lil Uno of The Pack & Mitchy Slick @ Icehouse Lounge07 during // Bun All B &Star Eazy weekend Mo Bee (Las@ Magic Ve “[My label] represents a whole different side, 04 // The Federation @ Warner Bros party (Los Angeles, CA) DJ Shakim & DJ BackSide @ the Aladdin for All Star weekend so it’s a trip how we fuck with each other,” 01 // Dem Hoodstarz & Too $hort @ Icehouse Lounge for All Star (Las Vegas, NV) 09 // 14 // Network & David Banner @ Warner Bros party (Los Angeles, CA) Beeda explains. “They handle they square gas, NV) 03 // 06 // Chris Lighty & Polow da Don @ Pacific Theater for Jermaine Dupri’s Pre-Grammy party (Los Angeles, CA) Blue Williams & DJ Miltikit @ Pacific Looney Theater & The for Jacka Jermaine @ Youth Dupri’s UpRising 16 Pre-Grammy// Jazze (Oakland, Pha &party J-Bo CA) (Los @ IvarAngeles, for business and that’s the type of shit we need to Park Resort (Las Vegas, NV) 08 // Angela Simmons & Lloyd @ the Aladdin for11 //All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV)13 // know so we can build our company. But good Convention (Las Vegas, NV) 21 10 // Cubo, Jimmy Chocolate, & DJ Noble (Las Vegas, NV) 18 // Young Buck & Young Jeezy @ Icehouse Lounge for All music is good music. A lot of critics be tough (Las Vegas, NV) 15 // Lil Wayne & Akon @ the Aladdin for All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 12 // Stephen Hill & Ray J @ Pacific Theater for Jermaine Dupri’s Pre-Grammy party (Los Angeles, CA) on me when they see I’m on Hiero. They see CA) 17 // Mr Marcus & friends @ Alexis Park20 // ResortDJ J-Nice (Las & Vegas, Nelly @NV) Ivar for Hittmenn DJs Grammy afterparty (Los Angeles, CA) me there and they think I’m finna come this Chingy & Nelly @ the Aladdin for All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) way when I’m comin’ on some street shit. So Hittmenn DJs Grammy afterparty Tony Neal (Los & Angeles, Too $hort CA) @ Alexis Park Resort (Las Vegas, NV) 19 // 22 // D-Ray & LL Cool J @ Barnes & Noble book signing (Oakland, CA) they try to say my lyrics ain’t complex enough. Star (Las Vegas, NV) // Balance & DJ K-Tone (San Francisco, CA) Beno (10); D-Ray (03,04,13,22); Julia Beverly (01,05,06,07,08,09,11,12,14,15,16,17,18,19,20); Malik Abdul (02); Squirrel (21) Photo Credits:

OZONE WEST //  Theater Music, Carson’s solo debut, is some of what Team followers have gotten used to. The confident rapper calls his restructured sound “Hip Hop RAP METTLE Soul Music.” The lead single “Two Step” may be the first indication of what to - expect. “It’s got a real West Coast feel with some Oakland game over it,” he he irony in the project that became The Team, a suave Bay Area four says. “I’m doing the same thing I did with The Team. In the Bay Area a lotta the shit is real up-tempo and a real hyphy sound. But hyphy is a culture. It’s some (Berkeley and Oakland) with a penchant for delivering game // affiliated lyrics over up-tempo beats coated in Southern-type slap, is not a sound to me.” Tthe essence of the word. While any basketball coach (especially George Karl Words by N. Ali Early right about now) would move to tell you there is no “I” in the operative word Photo by D-Ray “team,” don’t tell members Jungle, Kaz, Mayne and Clyde Carson.

“Everybody was already doin’ they own thing,” says Carson, the charismatic front man of the disbanded crew. “The whole idea was to come with a different sound for the Bay, a national sound. That was always the goal, to- do something that people could fuck with every where.”

The Team discovered that formula with “Gettin’ High,” a regional hit that had great potential, but never quite got on the national track. Still, they persisted with carefree exuberance, and in the process drumming up a strong following per a unique delivery described as “whispering.” With Keak da Sneak making his presence felt and up- and coming groups The Federation and Front - line balancing them out, The Team had the per fect approach. “When muthafuckas was yellin’, we was whispering,” explains Clyde, who doubles as the face of Hyphy Juice Energy Drink. “Muthafuckas thought other artists was us cause they was whispering. So it worked out good. You could see the influence we had on the Bay Area when you listen to a lot of the young cats that’s comin’ out.” - When the group ultimately went their sepa rate ways, Carson resumed his independent grind. While working out the details for a joint venture that would align his interest- in Moe Doe Records along with Capitol Re cords, The Game stumbled upon the Team’s product and recruited the charismatic Carson to join forces with The Black Wall Street. “I was already comin’ out solo,” he explains, “but the only way I could get the deal was to go through somebody. Game and them wanted to do it, so why wait?He’s continuing to grow with the West Coast. He’s lending his hand and makin’ shit happen.”

10 // OZONE WEST west coast who’s reading ozone? 01 // Too $hort @ MGM for the Up All 0Nite2 // AllLil Star weekend party (Las Vegas, NV) Flip with his OZONE All Star 0weekend3 // Mistah cover FAB @ 97.5 FM (Las Vegas, NV) 04 // @ Magic Convention (Las Vegas, NV) - J-Diggs, John Costen, & Mac Mall05 // @ Mad his Linxlis tening party (Richmond, CA) & DJ Majick @ Magic Convention (Las Vegas, NV) 06 // The Clipse @ the Aladdin07 // for Ice-T All & Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) CoCo @ Icehouse Lounge for All Star (Las 08 // Twista @ his listening Vegas, NV) 09 // Roc, Jim party (Los Angeles, CA) Jonsin, & Twista @ his listening party (Los JR Smith, DJ K-Tone, Angeles, CA) 10 // & Dermar Johnson @ Blue Ice (Denver, CO) 11 // DJ Strong (Los Angeles, CA) Shorty Mack, Ray J, & DJ - DJ Who 12 // 13 // Jam-X @ Level 3 (Los Angeles, CA) Traxamillion @ MGM for the Up All Nite Theater Music, Carson’s solo debut, is some of what Team followers have All Star weekend party (Las Vegas, NV) gotten used to. The confident rapper calls his restructured sound “Hip Hop 14 // DJ Quik @ Raw Muzik Pre-Concert15 // DJ RAP METTLE Soul Music.” The lead single “Two Step” may be the first indication of what to Signing (Albuquerque, NM) - Devro & DJ Juice @ Everette & Jones16 for expect. “It’s got a real West Coast feel with some Oakland game over it,” he Guce listening party (Oakland, CA) he irony in the project that became The Team, a suave Bay Area four says. “I’m doing the same thing I did with The Team. In the Bay Area a lotta // Lil Pooh @ Thizz’ Super Bowl party the shit is real up-tempo and a real hyphy sound. But hyphy is a culture. It’s 17 // Heisman Boyz @ the- some (Berkeley and Oakland) with a penchant for delivering game // (Crest, CA) not a sound to me.” Aladdin for All Star weekend (Las Ve affiliated lyrics over up-tempo beats coated in Southern-type slap, is Freekey Zekey @ Magic gas, NV) 18 // 19 // DJ Tthe essence of the word. While any basketball coach (especially George Karl Words by N. Ali Early Convention (Las Vegas, NV) right about now) would move to tell you there is no “I” in the operative word Photo by D-Ray K-Tone, Nuchie, Mistah20 // FAB,& DJ Greo Young @ “team,” don’t tell members Jungle, Kaz, Mayne and Clyde Carson. Doe (Oakland, CA) 21 Magic Convention (Las Vegas, NV) “Everybody was already doin’ they own thing,” says // DJ Mars & S&S @ Icehouse Lounge Carson, the charismatic front man of the disbanded during All Star weekend (Las Vegas, NV) 22 // GLC @ Magic Convention crew. “The whole idea 23 // Algierz @ (Las Vegas, NV) was to come with a different sound for the Bay, a Magic Convention (Las Vegas, NV) national sound. That was always the goal, to- do 24 // Guce & Killa Kiese @ Everette something that people could fuck with every & Jones for Guce listening party 25 // DJ Raw @ The where.” (Oakland, CA) Raw Muzik Pre-Concert Signing 26 // Clinton The Team discovered that formula with “Gettin’ (Albuquerque, NM) Sparks @ Magic Convention (Las High,” a regional hit that had great potential, but 27 // Buckeey & Earl never quite got on the national track. Still, they Vegas, NV) Randolph @ Magic Convention (Las Chop Magnolia persisted with carefree exuberance, and in the Vegas, NV) 28 // process drumming up a strong following per a & Rydah J Klyde @ Thizz’ 29 Super// Elite unique delivery described as “whispering.” With Bowl party (Crest, CA) Keak da Sneak making his presence felt and up- Entertainment, The Jacka,30 // & DJDJ S- and coming groups The Federation and Front - K-Tone (Oakland, CA)3 1 // Danny line balancing them out, The Team had the per One (San Diego, CA) fect approach. “When muthafuckas was yellin’, Dee @ Everette & Jones for Guce we was whispering,” explains Clyde, who listening party (Oakland, CA) 32 // Jasmijn & Gully @ Magic33 doubles as the face of Hyphy Juice Energy Convention (Las Vegas, NV) Drink. “Muthafuckas thought other artists was // J-Diggs, Magnolia, & Kilo @ us cause they was whispering. So it worked Thizz’ Super Bowl party (Crest, out good. You could see the influence we had CA) 34 // Cali King members on the Bay Area when you listen to a lot of @ Everette & Jones for Guce the young cats that’s comin’ out.” listening party (Oakland, CA) - 35 // Kenny Burns @ Magic 36 Convention (Las Vegas, NV) When the group ultimately went their sepa // Mista SD 808 (San Diego, CA) rate ways, Carson resumed his independent 37 // Felli Fel @ the Aladdin grind. While working out the details for a for All Star weekend (Las DJ Big Dee joint venture that would align his interest- Vegas, NV) 38 // in Moe Doe Records along with Capitol Re @ the Aladdin for All Star cords, The Game stumbled upon the Team’s weekend (Las Vegas, NV) product and recruited the charismatic Beno Carson to join forces with The Black Wall Photo Credits: (14,25); D-Ray (04,15,16,2 Street. “I was already comin’ out solo,” he 4,28,31,33,34); DJ K-Tone explains, “but the only way I could get (10,12); DJ S-One (30); DJ the deal was to go through somebody. Who (11); Julia Beverly Game and them wanted to do it, so why (01,02,03,05,06,07,08, wait?He’s continuing to grow with the 09,13,17,18,20,22,23,26, West Coast. He’s lending his hand and 27,32,35,37,38); Malik Abdul makin’ shit happen.” (21); Mista SD 808 (36); Squirrel (19,29)

OZONE WEST // 11 To every one hater, it’s a hundred that love me. When they stop talkin’ about me WORDS // N. ALI EARLYthat’s when PHOTOS // ERIC JOHNSONI need to be worried about it.

12 // OZONE WEST successful as his 2006 was as an artist, it’s easy to for- blossoming. I’m on everything but the cereal box, and that’s where the hate get that E-40 is one of the most business-minded cats comes. It comes with the package, basically. As far as the hyphy movement, I to approach the mic – ever. A self-made millionaire, ain’t hidin’ behind no rock. I stay in the Bay in the thick of it. I’m right there. 40 remains the standard for artistic hustle in the Bay I rest my head in a comfortable environment, but I know what‘s around me. I Area and beyond. The Ball Street Journal, due out this ain’t never left the Bay. So what I’m supposed to do, just ignore the shit that May, promises to be a fitting follow-up toMy Ghetto Report Card, 40’s ninth we doin’, the shit that my lil cousin, nieces and nephews is doin’? That’s the Afull length ssolo album – one where he went dumb (“Tell Me When to Go”), youth. Nah, I don’t ghostride the whip. Me, I’m just a narrator. I’m broadcas- snapped his fingers (“U and Dat”) and came up golden with the assistance tin’ live from Magazine Street in Vallejo. I’m lettin’ people outside of the Bay of Executive Producer Lil Jon. Beyond the music, Charlie Hustle’s plans for Area know, “Hey, this is what we got goin’ on in the Bay.” 2007 would make Donald Trump wanna fire the remaining members of “The Apprentice” and see about a true Bay Area Boss. It would have been impossible for you to ignore. It wasn’t the streets that was hatin’ when they said I was tryna take the title With his Fatburger chain intact, which he shares with former Oakland Raider of the hyphy movement. Nah, I’m not tryna do that. I just came across a hit standout Chester McGlockten, 40’s currently pushing a cognac by Landy and record. Me, Keak and Lil Jon came with a blapper. That was one of the big- is also rounding out the details for a children’s cartoon. With the dictionary gest songs period to come up out the Bay for a rapper, shit, I don’t know in of slang now on the shelf indefinitely, perhaps the most overdue of all his how long, prolly since [The Luniz’] “I Got 5 On It.” Besides Baby Bash I don’t business ventures is 40 Water – a vitamin water that’s been in the works for recall another record out of the Bay goin’ gold. Prolly the last one that went a few promotional runs. If all goes as planned, 40 Water should be plenti- gold before Baby Bash, was prolly mine and that was the Element of Surprise ful by the summer in tangerine, fruit punch, lemon-lime and watermelon in ’99. The last record that prolly went gold was my damn record! [laughs] flavors. You feel me? Here I am eight years later right back at it with another one.

For the moment, there’s plenty game to chop, including 40’s views on the Yeah, you been there all the way through. hyphy movement and his role in it. I been holdin’ on like a hubcap in the fast lane. Even during the drought when it was nobody payin’ attention to the Bay, nobody was fuckin’ with the Everybody compares every album you do to In A Major Way, but your last ef- West Coast, I stayed consistently puttin’ out music. Whether it was Loyalty & fort was an extremely solid project. At this point, what keeps you going? Betrayal in 2000, Grit and Grind, Breakin’ News, all those records was classi- What motivates me is the love of rappin’. I got something to say. I feel like I cal records too. It just wasn’t no push. I was fuckin’ with a label that coulda was put on this earth to be an innovator, a trendsetter and a true player in pushed the button and turned on that machine, but they just didn’t. That’s my rhymes. I really feel like I’m one of the coldest if not the coldest in the just how life is. It’s good now that I got with BME and Warner though, ‘cause industry. I done covered every part of the game. I’ve said so many things, they pushed the button for me. They knew what they had. Game recognize not just slang, but I done touched down on shit that muthafuckas ain’t never game. I never really had a chance to be A&R’d. I sat back and I really was touched down on and is scared to touch down on far as subject matter wise. an artist this time instead [being in] CEO mode like I always do. But I knew

Just my unique style, being able to not have to rap like that all the time, fast I’d have to work hard. People don’t understand how hard you gotta work,

For every one hater, it’s a hundred “ that love me. To every one When they hater, it’s stop talkin’ a hundred about me that love me. that’s“ when When they I need to stop talkin’ be worried about me about it. WORDS // N. ALI EARLYthat’s when PHOTOS // ERIC JOHNSONI need to be worried about

it. rap or slow, I do it all. I go according to what the beat is telling me to do. gettin’ up at five in the morning, catchin’ a flight, hittin’ the radio, gotta be there early for the morning show. You get a little breath and then you gotta You did slow it down on My Ghetto Report Card. Was that intentional or was go to the afternoon show. You got autograph signings. Man, it’s not no easy that something that came with the move to BME and Lil Jon’s supervision? thang. It’s wear and tear on the body. I like to get my sip on ‘cause it relaxes It’s just a mixture. Sometimes I say some cold stuff to where it go over a lot my mind. A lot of times we gettin’ in from an afterparty, then go eat. You of cats’ heads and I wantede-40 to make sure they heard everything I said. Some actually goin’ to bed at 4:30, 5:00 and you gotta wake up a couple hours of the songs I rapped fast, but it was according to the beat. I got my point later? Sometimes we don’t even go to sleep. It’s blood, sweat and tears in across this time around. Ain’t nuthin’ changed about me. I still do my start- this rap game and it’s not like it’s a money tree in my backyard. I work hard stop-and-go-scoot-type delivery flow. It don’t stop with me. for the money.

The hyphy movement took off in a real way this past year and you were a big What’s a typical day like for you? reason for that. But you also received your share of flack in the process. You A typical day for me is thanking God for waking me up early in the morning. care to clear the air? I’m on the phone right away, because a lot of my calls be three hours ahead I got the torch, man. Three or four years ago it wasn’t no hate. I was at a of us, East Coast time. So I make my phone calls, gear up for my studio ses- point where I was makin’ a transition in my life comin’ from Jive Records. sion, call my engineer and get in the lab and just go for it. I might get up All of a sudden things started gettin’ out there to the world and I saw it outta that lab at one, two in the morning, sometimes five, but when I get up

OZONE WEST // 13 in there I get up in that batter’s box and I try to hit them home runs. I don’t Snoop.” I never entertained that shit. I keep it wigglin’. I never said nothin’ be tryna bunt. You know how some cats be throwin’ away verses? Like they about it. I knew one day true bosses would come together. God works in don’t like they verse? I keep my verses, cause they can always be revamped. mysterious ways. We got down on that song, went to the studio together and You can put a new beat to it or something. It just might not work for that it worked out. We did the video. I put my input on the video, said I wanna particular beat. bring my dudes from the Bay so they can get down and do they turf dancin’ and we got ol’ girl from the Digable Planets on there and it all unfolded. From the perspective of an artist, was it an easier process with Jon there this That’s how it is. Northern California is my soil and he got Southern California. go round? We can’t let one or two people get between us. We gotta all come together. It’s like this: I listen. I’m not stubborn and I put my pride to the side. If Lil To me, I’m the trunk. I’m the main root of the tree. The rest of my fellas are Jon tells me he don’t like a verse and wants me to do another one, I done branches and I gotta stay afloat ‘cause we gotta make this a bigger tree. seen him do it to so many people, but we really go change our verses. And guess what? It comes out for the better. And that’s what happened for the You gotta stay prayed up. That means a lot. I pray throughout the day. I ask album My Ghetto Report Card. It was a couple verses I had to switch up, but God to put the blood of Jesus around me, ‘cause you never know. Anything I did it. could happen. We sittin’ right here at the airport. A plane could just crash into this building where we are. So I thank him for waking me up every day All it takes is one or two funguses or cancers with some heavy mouths to and all the blessings that he’s done for me, keeping me in my right mind. I make it spread. A lot of times rappers is the most gossipin’ muthafuckers in just praise dude. I’m not tryna act like I’m saved, sanctified and filled with the world and it’s like people let everybody get in they ear. You let some- the Holy Ghost, but I’m a serious believer in God. And I suggest that all of us body get in your ear, that’s how crews break up. You know how muthafuckas be that, real spill. I stay givin’. I make more withdrawals than I make depos- be havin’ camps and shit? Couple dudes get in they ear, that’s how groups its, but I stay givin’. Some people try to get in there and make it out like I’m break up, cause you let somebody get in your ear. That’s the thang. I need to just a bad guy and I’m selfish, but to know me is a beautiful thing. I believe make a song about it. “Don’t let ‘em get in your ear.” [laughs] in loyalty. I’m a loyal dude and I like loyal people around me.

How does that work when you’re E-40 and you already see it coming? What do you have to see in an artist to ride with them? You know, they hate you and they love you. Muthafuckers love me in I got good insight. I can kinda tell who will end up turnin’ real life. Even the ones that hate me, they don’t on you in the future and I can tell who really gon’ ride with even know why they hate me, cause they don’t this shit. So I kinda go with my gut and I judge them by the even know me like that. I’m cut from a whole way they carry themselves. It’s hella rappers out there that different cloth than a lot of these muthafuck- “I feel like I was I’m tryna [court], that’s raw than a muthafucker, but they ers, man. Muthafuckers wanna holla about bein’ minds is fucked up and they in the way of theyself. A lot of crack babies, shit, my generation is the reason put on this earth to ‘em always think somebody tryna get over on ‘em. How the why you niggas is crack babies. I done really got be an innovator, a fuck am I gettin’ over on you and I’m the one puttin’ my down and dirty about mine in real life and I al- hard earned money and time into this and you just usin’ ways kept a solid slate. I ain’t never done nothin’ trendsetter and a your talent? You ain’t sold record one yet [laughs]. But I foul to nobody in the game. I’m on some real time. true player about look for uniqueness and somebody who ain’t scared to I’m a real nigga. You smell me? And those who try do some different shit. Stick with what’s in the envelope. to get it all twitted up, they don’t even know me my rhymes. I really Don’t go out and do no game goofy shit. Keep it soil, but like that. It’s very few. For every one hater, it’s a at the same time, make it some [fire] shit. hundred that love me. Even the ones who hate me, feel like I’m one of they know that I’m one of the coldest human beings the coldest if not Gotta tip my hat to you too. I know it took awhile for overall. When they stop talkin’ about me that’s when you to accept Turf on that level, but it was a pretty I need to be worried about it. the coldest in the good damn decision considering the 2006 he had. industry.” Yeah, Turf Talk, that’s a good dude. That dude got a big A lot of outsiders, and even some Bay Area residents, ol’ heart. If we at the airport or somethin’ and he at a are looking at the hyphy movement as if it’s on some different terminal or I’m down at the gate, he’ll call me and be like, clown shit — “I’m over at this little ooh-whop over here by gate 7. You want something Tell ‘em to come to the Bay and watch one of these dreadheads take ya top to eat?” You know, he’ll treat me. It’s very rare a muthafucker treats me. I’m off. One of these young niggas will take ya top off. Don’t let the dancin’ always the one doin’ the treatin’. If a muthafucker with me, nine times out of fool you. Feel me? Like my “Tell Me When To Go” video, that shit was gutter. ten I’ma pay for the bill. I don’t care if it’s eight, nine, ten of us. The majority That was a lifestyle, man. That’s how we get down. That shit shows as much of the time I take care of it. I just love when muthafuckers do shit like that as you can show in four minutes how our shit went. Wasn’t nothin’ game [for me]. That shit means a lot. It could be just $3. I don’t care. goofy about that shit. Sometimes I think the Bay can be the Bay’s own worst enemy, cause it be muthafuckers that ain’t really with the hyphy movement What were your thoughts on the BARS Awards and the disorganization that that talk about muthafuckers that get down with it. Then they contradict led to reported “disturbances?” themselves with they shit and put “hyphy” all on the title. It be all kinds I take my hat off to [BARS Awards founder] Booyowski. The Bay is a place of contradictions muthafuckers be doin’. They be sayin’ they ain’t with it, where it’s hard to control everybody. Nobody got shot or nothin’ like that. I but then all of a sudden you see ‘em on this song talkin’ bout “ghostridin’,” was happy that Turf Talk got his award. He’s a cold individual. That’s a cold “yadadimeans,” “doors open,” just all kinda shit. But we just gotta step our ass rapper man. I’ma say it. He one of the best I know in real life. If people unity game up. I can’t help you if you can’t help yourself. just sit down and look at it, he gamed up. He got a lot of uniqueness. He got delivery and when he rap it seems like he means it. You’ve been accused of not putting other Bay Area artists on the map along the way. What was the relationship between you and Mac Dre before he died? Muthafuckers be like, “Oh, he the Ambassador, man.” Man, I done got at We was cool, man. It wasn’t like we was buddy-buddy. We just had a mutual so many muthafuckas that I done liked, to sign, but I just say I’ma stick respect for each other. I respected him and he respected me. We talked. We with who I got. Cause a lot of people get it twisted. They think off top just was talkin’ bout comin’ out with some songs or a compilation or whatever. because it’s me, they s’posed to get cracked off when they sign. They s’posed We had something. Muthafuckers wanna act like I was tryna create record to be ridin’ big, this that and the other. But it’s like, “You ain’t sold record 1.” sales and wanna come with diss records. That shit don’t move me. I’m a boss. I’ma do the standard whoo-wop, feel me? But then again, we got so much They be tryna get me to respond. I’m cool. Me and [Mac] Dre was alright and talent out there in the Bay. There’s a lot of talent. A lot of cats do it all. You dude was a raw ass rapper. When he was on Young Black Brotha, that’s when heard me on snap music. You heard me killin’ it on the Snoop track, “Candy,” I feel he was the coldest, just like people say my earlier work was my best killin’ it on the Lil Scrappy track, “Oh Yeah.” You hear me on the hyphy blap. I shit. But he redefined himself before he passed. Man, dude was a trendset- do it all, just like my album. It was a mixture of everything. My Ghetto Report ter and definitely was a big part of the hyphy movement. I ain’t gon’ deny Card was a monster. No punk and it’s mixed with a little bit of all angles of it. I’m not finna say that he wasn’t. Man, I take my hat off to dude. Rest In music. The youngsters is on it and the OGs. I got something for everybody. I Peace. Dude set trends and he was doin’ his thang. He wasn’t on no “Fuck got fans from 2 years old to 55 years old in real life. [laughs] 40” shit and I wasn’t on no “Fuck Mac Dre” shit. When he was alive I had a song called “Hyphy” with The Federation. Dude was a trendsetter. The hyphy You mentioned the song with Snoop. A while back there was talk that the movement started in Oakland and he had his own branch of the movement two of you weren’t on the best terms. How did that song come about? and he did his thang. That’s wassup. E-40 just preaches about what’s goin’ Muthafuckers was steady in my ear like, “Man, you should do a song about on in our area. //

14 // OZONE WEST OZONE WEST // 15 started. When I first started DJing, that’s all I used dj issue | west DJ JUICE to do - mixtapes. I’d record a mix a day and just sell it. I never kept a copy of it, so whoever got that TURF – The Bay: born in San Francisco, lives in copy, that was the original and nobody else had a Richmond, came up in Oakland copy. People would go into stores and the whole wall would be mixtapes. If they bought one from HANDLE – pretty much handed down. Pop’s nick- another DJ they had no idea what to expect, but name was ‘Juice.’ “From there on out everybody they already knew what to expect from a DJ Juice called me Juice and when I became a DJ it was a mixtape. That evolved into what it is today.” no-brainer. My real name, Hugo, if you mispro- nounce it in Spanish, it means Juice.” PAYING DUES – “What have you really done? Just cause you put out fifty mixtapes it don’t make you CLICK – CORE DJs, Double Impact Productions the tightest. At the end of the day it’s quality over quantity and at the same time, if you ain’t paid no PRODUCT – Hip Hop series, R&B series, Bay Area dues, you’re just another guy putting out mixtapes series, No Dirt, Grindtime, Audio Crack, NWO (New with no street cred. Anywhere you go out here, you West Order), KDIP Radio ask about me and they’ll tell you. Cats come to me specifically because they know how I get down.” CATCH ME IN THE CLUB – 17, Anton, Mingles (resident DJ before it shut down), Zebra Lounge, Velvet BAY’D OUT – “Before the hyphy movement blew up I Lounge was out there reppin’. Every red carpet event, every photo shoot, anything that I ever did, you saw me HOOKUP – djjuice.biz, myspace.com/djjuicemixtapes with a 49ers cap, a Giants cap, an A’s cap, some- thing to do with The Bay to where people would BAY AREA MIXTAPE KING – “On that, I’m pretty much know. When cats come out here from New York, they like Juelz Santana. I don’t claim to be the king, I wear their NY hats. You don’t see them with no Bay just do my thing. A lotta cats out here claim to be [gear] on. So I was one of the cats that was like, the mixtape king, but I don’t really get caught up ‘I’m from the Bay.’ I didn’t do it myself, but I did my in that whole thing. In The Bay your achievements part in bringing recognition to The Bay.” and your actions are going to stand out over all of that. I get money. I put mixtapes out and I break MIXTAPES VS THE CLUB – “They both work hand- records.” in-hand. Anything I’ve ever achieved in this game [was] because of my mixtapes. When I first came out THA BUBBLE – “Everybody jumped on the mixtape my intention was never to be a club DJ because I wagon when 50 Cent blew up and got signed, but was a mobile DJ at first. I always wanted to be a DJ. I been doin’ my mixtapes forever. That’s how I got I been buyin’ records since I was eight.”

PHOTO: D-RAY DJ D WREK

TURF – from The Bay: born in Oakland, me if I could DJ. I was kinda like his moved to Vallejo as a youth, currently hype man. But as a hype man, you ain’t residing in Los Angeles really gettin’ no real respect. You just the other dude with a mic.” BIG BREAK – Nick Cannon’s MTV series Wild’n Out – “My name is more famous CREATIVE FREEDOM - “I can do me as than my face. People always want to far as lettin’ as much of my personal- know what you do and when I tell ity out in the world of a DJ as it fits on them my name, they get excited and that show. But as far as creating, Nick act like they know me all of a sudden.” is the Executive Producer [of Wild’n Out] and 90% of the ideas come from SIDE HUSTLE – So So Def DJs, Warner him. He is the end-all, be-all of that Bros. mixtapes – “What Wild’n Out has show. That is his brainchild.” allowed me to do is get gigs all over the country. People want me to DJ their INSTINCTIVE HUSTLE – Moved to Los parties, but more than anything else, Angeles to pursue his dreams in the they want to hear my voice.” music industry. While juggling his rap career with choreographing and the HANDLE – “My name is Derek and Nick arduous duties of a production assis- was like, ‘Yo, your name is Derek. You tant on the sets of Malcolm and Eddie should be D-Wrek, like records.’ So I and eventually the Nickelodeon series went with it. It didn’t make me no dif- All That, D Wrek met and ultimately ference anyway. Names, after you say bonded with Nick Cannon. “I knew them enough, they stick anyway.” when I left The Bay that I wasn’t going to LA to have a regular job. If I was HIS-STORY – Started off as a b-boy/ gonna do that I would’ve stayed home dancer and began DJing in the late or went back East or something where ‘80s. Stopped deejaying in the ‘90s and the cost of living is cheaper. I was started rapping until the fateful meet- hustlin’. Out here it’s a hustle.” ing with Nick Cannon. “I met Nick in like ’97 and we started doin’ his demos HOOKUP – djdwrek.com, myspace. and stuff like that, and he asked com/djdwrek

16 // OZONE WEST dj issue | west

DJ SAKE-1

TURF – San Francisco, Filmore and the J. Blige or it could be an underground Mission District tune, but I’m able to find soulfulness out of it and rock a party with it. [My style CREW – California’s Local 1200 Sound has] a sexy edge but it ain’t too sexy to System, Snobb Deep Movement, Soul where the homies ain’t feelin’ it. That’s Deluxxe and Planet Fillmoe my niche.”

FORTE – “Remixes, mixtapes, and produc- HANDLE – “My name stems from graffiti tion on the soul side of things. I combine from back in the day. It doesn’t really rap and R&B, kinda do both equally. It got mean that much. The funny thing is I did to the point where I got kinda frustrated a gig in Japan and they thought I was so I just started throwin’ my own shit. I Japanese, cause they thought it was like was blessed and they was real successful ‘Sake’ and I went out there and they were and they took off. Out of that I started trippin’ cause I was definitely not Japa- Ubiquity Records and Fader hollered at nese. It’s just a word that I used to write me to do mixtapes for them and I became when I was little and I used to tag in the a tastemaker DJ as opposed to a street DJ streets and it just stuck with me.” or a scratch DJ. “ BOTTOM LINE – “The Hip Hop part is ROOTS – “Hip Hop, but I branched off into always going to be in me, but for me it’s a different style/sound so now I get com- not about going to a party and playing pared to the DJ Spinners and DJ Jamads a bunch of music that I’m paid to play, of the world.” because I’m promoting myself as an art- ist/producer. I started out as a DJ, so it’s PRODUCT – FADER/Cornerstone Mix always going to be about rocking a party. – Suite 903, Podcast for Ubiquity Records If I got a song that I made that rocks the (out this fall), Soul Deluxe mixtape series, party then it’s all good, but if it’s another Miami Winter Music Conference mixtape song that rocks the party then I’ll play that too. At the end of the day that’s my 360 DEGREES OF SOUL – “It’s a soulful goal.” edge, but my definition of a soulful song could be anything. It could be a dance- HOOKUP – myspace.com/djsake1 , hall reggae song. It could be a Mary djsake1.com

PHOTO: D-RAY DEMOLITION MEN

MEMBERS – DJ Devro and DJ Impe- was moving out here, one of my real roommates was moving out and I let him move in. He came in here and it TURF – from Los Angeles (Devro) and was instant. We just clicked,” Devro Queens (Impereal), but rep Oakland says. – “LA’s cool. It’s a nice place to visit, but the Bay is where it’s at.” – Devro PRODUCT – Nuthin’ But Slap, Best of the Bay, Out the Trunk, Supply HANDLE – The Mixtape Kings; earned & Demand, R&B Slap, Mas Caliente, their moniker(s) by hitting the Mixtape DVD hosted by Husalah and streets day and night with backpacks various customized mixtapes for full of custom mixes for the Bay Area underground Bay artists. masses and demolishing weaker, less polished competition in the process. BAY LOVE – “It ain’t nothin’ like the Bay. We stick with Bay Area artists THE BUBBLE – came up by deliver- because thy’re independent. They ing customized mixtapes to their ain’t got nobody standin’ over their customers in every corner of the shoulder tellin’ em what they can Bay. Over the course of three years and can’t do.” they moved 36 mixtapes, including nine devoted to East Bay slap, which PROOF POSITIVE – “We talk with our helped earn fans a dedicated market hands out here. After the first couple that serves the entire West Coast. mixtapes came out and we sat down and listened to them with the talking THE MERGER – After leaving Los on them, we decided that that’s not Angeles in favor of the Bay, DJ Devro what we do.” tried going it alone until he and Queens native Impereal met through HOOKUP – www.myspace.com/ a mutual DJ friend. “Just as Impereal demolitionmenmusic

OZONE WEST // 17 a blessing ‘cause now G-Unit is the ones branding DOW JONES a nigga name puttin’ us out there.” dj issue | west – from Seattle, currently residing in Los TURF - www.westcoastlivin.com, www.myspace. Angeles HOOKUP com/dowjonesplayyourposition, www.myspace. com/thabiznessbeats HANDLE – “One of my pa’tnas came up with it. Niggas get up early as fuck every morning to – # 1 Hip Hop radio show (104.5 FM) check and see what the stock shit is doin’, what LOCAL LEGEND in Seattle for two and a half years before broad- trends are being set daily. Hopefully I’ll be the ening his hustle to the club scene. “I was one of one settin’ the trends. It’s about always bein’ the first niggas in Seattle to go and produce and about the money and the business too.” promote my own parties. From street promo to street team, doin’ the flyers, doin’ the graphics, all – In-house producer for G-Unit BIG DEE STATUS that shit to DJing events and puttin’ some of our other DJ homies on.” THA BUBBLE – came up doin’ the mixtapes and got TURF – originally from South Central, now put on by DV One. “I used to go out with him and - “If it was up to me I’d resides in Sin City do all the Rice City Crew parties and fuck wit’ all KNOWLEDGE SERVED rather be in the studio 24 hours a day than doing them niggas in New York.” anything else. It’s just the whole environment of HANDLE – “The hardest working DJ in Las creating shit. When you get it right and get the Vegas” a.k.a. “don’t let the competition hire - Play Your Position mixtape series; has PRODUCT artist to lay everything down right, to me that’s it. me.” featured Mistah FAB, Mitchy Slick, Problem, Strong Everything else is boring. But that’s what makes Arm Steady, Xzibit, Ras Kass, Lil Scrappy, Glasses a nigga more well-rounded – being able to see CATCH ME IN THE CLUB – 2007 All Star Malone, E-40, Parker Brothaz, Khao and others every side of the table.” weekend (Dwayne Wade, Ben Wallace, All Star Comedy Concert), Paris Hilton’s birthday – one half of Tha Bizness Productions (J GRIND – “The way the Seattle market is, be- party Hen) – has produced for the likes of 50 Cent, HOME ALONE ing that we never really had a Hip Hop artist crack Young Buck, G Unit, LL Cool J, Mistah Fab, Glasses off since Sir Mix A Lot, I took it like I started from HUSTLE – Sirius Satellite Radio (Hot Jamz Malone, Clyde Carson, DG Yola, P Stonez, Yung Joc, nuthin’ and I got to where I’m at now, so let’s channel 50), Music Choice TV, spins on KVEG Roccette & 211 from CTR, Grand Hustle, Memphis branch out and see what the next level is going to Hot 97.5 six nights a week, clothing line, Bleek, San Quinn, Ya Boy and others. “We used the be. That’s why I figured I had to go to a big city.” jewelry line (Diamonds by Derrick) mixtape thing to get the production off. It’s been CLICK – CORE DJs

HOOKUP – www.myspace.com/djbigdee702, coredjs.com, kveg.com

WORTH THE WEIGHT – “You got these nickel and dime deejays who’ll do a party for fifty bucks and five drink tickets. Then you have the cat who’ll do it for $800.00 or a G or $500.00. What promoter do you know that doesn’t want to save a buck?”

DRINKING AND SPINNING – I’ve been wasted DJing before, but I’ve never been to the point where I was stumbling and falling. I’ve seen some DJs so shitfaced that they’re records will skip and they don’t even know. I’ve seen cats pass out in the DJ booth before. You dj felli fel Most recently House of RED CARPET TREATMENT - have to do it in moderation. Two, three shots, Hype (Paris Hilton, Nick Cannon, Three 6), DTP born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and the energy in the club keeps you awake.” TURF – Grammy party (Luda, Chamillionaire, etc) raised in Atlanta, currently resides in Los Angeles. – “It’s very political myspace.com/djfellifel, mixmatters.com, THE TRUTH ABOUT RADIO HOOKUP – with some corrupt haze over it. All these heavyhitters.com HANDLE - started as DJ Felony and finally settle on record labels at the end of the day just care Felli Fel. about gettin’ their shit played. It’s a freakin’ in the mold of Dr. Dre’s classic Chronic, PROJECTS – number on a spreadsheet.” is currently overseeing a project that he produced Music producer and DJ for big events: Three HUSTLE - from the roota to the toota. 6 Mafia, Akon, Ne-Yo, Paul Wall, Mike Jones and POWER OF THE DJs – “A lot of these artists hosted Kanye West’s concert in Vegas, etc. really need to respect DJs. You got artists that’s disrespectin’ DJs, puttin’ their hands HIS STORY – started out in Dallas on KNON, moved on DJs, but they don’t realize he can make to KICK FM (Spanish station) and eventually landed a phone call and they’ll get shut the fuck at K104 KKDA. Now host and DJ of the number one down.” rated nighttime show on Power 106 in Los Angeles where he’s responsible for breaking Kanye’s WEST UP – The Bay Area really took over. I’m “Through The Wire,” T Pain’s “I’m Sprung” and PCD’s not from Northern Cali, but that’s still a part “Dontcha,” Quik and AMG’s “Can You Work Wit That,” of the West Coast. As far as South Central, I among others. “It’s important that we have more really feel like we can go harder, because than just Snoop and The Game repping LA on the the South right now is running it. 75% of the radio. Quik and AMG are staples of LA rap.” music I play on my radio show is Southern music or Southern- influenced music. They PRODUCT – Felli Fel mixtapes (new artist and host don’t have any West Coast on our playlist. every month), Vinyl issues (Breakbeats and Party- The Game is doin’ his thing, Snoop is doin’ breaks) his thing and Cube made his comeback, but it doesn’t stop there. We could be doin’ a lot CLICK – Heavy Hitters more than we’re doing right now.

18 // OZONE WEST spot on Sirius Satellite Radio – Hip Hop Nation (Sat. DJ SKEE nights). TURF – Los Angeles HOOKUP – djskee.com, skeetv.com, myspace. com/djskee HANDLE – “I was tryna figure out a DJ name for the radio and I just saw my name (Scott Keeney) – “It’s crazy ‘cause I started off sittin’ there and I just took the first four letters and B BOY OR BAD BOY likin’ rock and all that underground shit, that whole dropped the rest.” New York vibe, but I’ve always been appreciative of everything. From the Cash Money heydays to classic – official mixtape DJ for THE Game, CEO of STATUS West Coast – Dre, Snoop, Death Row, to everything. SK Consulting I’ve always appreciated all flavors of music and that goes beyond Hip Hop.” GAMETIME – was working at Loud Records as an intern and met The Game. “I saw his talent and he – “I want to eventually keep saw some of the stuff I was doing and we’ve been SKEE FOR PRESIDENT expanding my voice. It’s kinda crazy. You look at DJ FRANZEN rocking ever since.” my Myspace, I’m like the number one rated Myspace page in terms of hits and all that shit, so I wanna – “It had to be MOST MEMORABLE GAME MOMENT keep gettin’ my voice bigger and bigger with some TURF - born in the Bay Area, now spinning on the one with ‘300 Bars.’ That’s the one that took it TV shit and the syndication shit. I wanna use the Hot 97.5 in Vegas to the next level, especially in my career with the power that I acquire to eventually go into politics mixtapes and all.” STATUS - known for breaking Bay Area art- and do stuff like that so I can actually make a change. Honestly, my goal is to be the President. I ists and introducing the hyphy movement to – mobile TV Network, “SKEE TV,” market- GRIND still got a ways to go, but that’s what I’m shootin’ Las Vegas, where he’s held it down since the ing consultant for T-Mobile Sidekick, Chrysler (300, for.” station’s inception five years ago. Dodge Magnum, etc.), former Marketing Director for SRC ROOTS - started as an intern at fourteen and worked his way into a position at KMEL (number HIS-STORY – started off on radio at 16 in Minne- four market). By sixteen he had his own air apolis and moved to Los Angeles to work with Steve show and earned the highest ratings for a night Rifkind a year later at Loud. Eventually landed a show before bolting for Vegas.

HOOKUP - www.myspace.com/djfranzen

LAS BAYGAS - “I brought [the Bay] out here to Vegas and a lot of people adapted to it. It works in the club because it’s high energy music and when people are on the dance floor they’re having fun with it. I’m one of the first DJs to break Bay Area records in the Bay Area. When I first got my break in radio, that’s what I always wanted to do so that’s what I represent. But yeah, people out here [in Vegas] like it too.”

THA LV BRAND - “There’s a nice local scene out here but it’s hard to get on the radio cause of all the politics. If you’ve been in the business for a long time, you know about the politics in mixtapes definitely got me out of my region. The radio. I’ve been trying to get a local show on DJ Moe 1 clubs, people know me for that, but I think outside forever, but it seems like it’s not working. As far of The Bay, people know me for the mixtapes. as the local artists, you got Trigga – he’s very TURF – Tha Bay – born in San Francisco, moved to That definitely got me poppin’. I owe a lot to the well known. Steve Rock - he’s a producer, artist, Richmond in 1992 mixtape game.” and lyricist and there’s a guy named Wease Mac who’s well known, too. There’s a local scene FAMILY TIES – DJ Juice’s younger brother BRAGGING RIGHTS – Juice, who is widely acknowl- here but it’s not as strong as it should be.” edged as the Bay Area Mixtape King, has gone on IN THE GAME – 11 years, been deejaying since his record as saying Moe 1 is more skilled than him. FROM THE GROUND UP - “You got to start out youth, inspired by big bruh - “We grew up in a “He says that, but I don’t know. I think we kinda with the streets first. Go to barbershops, mom small house and the turntables were in a mutual different. He likes to do a little bit of mixing and I and pop stores, malls, get on Myspace. Self spot, which was the living room, but he gave me like to scratch and do all kinds of other crazy shit promotion comes first. Certain artists put out the green light. He was like, ‘Fuck wit it, but don’t too.” a CD and automatically think it’s going to sell. fuck it up’.” That’s the wrong perception. You have to hit SATISFACTION GUARANTEED – “You wanna come to the streets and not just in your area. A lot of CLICK – Double Impact Productions a DJ Moe1 party ‘cause you’re definitely going to people in the Bay are satisfied with just getting have fun. I get the crowd involved. It don’t matter played in the Bay Area. There’s so much more. CATCH ME IN THE CLUB – 17, Jeffry’s, Mingles (before who’s in there, you’re going to feel like a superstar You want to hit the major cities like Chicago, it shut down) 330 Ritch, Glas Kat when you leave the party.” Miami, Detroit, New York, Atlanta, Houston, L.A., Phoenix, all the big markets. That’s the best HOOKUP – djmoe1.com, myspace.com/djmoe1 DEXTERITY – “I’m a party rocker and a mixtape DJ promotion there is.” and that’s kinda rare. A lot of DJs do the mixtapes SIDE HUSTLE – PRODUCTION - “I like working behind and they don’t do the parties, but I do it all. I THE FUTURE - “I see myself using my connections the boards. My ultimate goal is to smash out some get down on the party. I really know how to rock to get more behind the scenes. I produce music platinum beats. I’m tryna get to that level.” a party. I get on the mic. I know how to talk to as well. I want to be an A&R and find a platinum people and get the party goin’ and on the mixtape hip-hop or R&B artist. I want to A&R for some- PRODUCT – The Chosen One, R&B series – Hot side I get real creative with it. My whole thing is one and help executive produce their album.” & Wet, Old School Hip Hop Classics, Slow Jams being creative with the cuttin’ and scratchin’ and Mixtape Series, Bay exclusives with Jimmie Reign, the blends. I might talk a little, but I like to let the Words: Ms. Rivercity Mistah FAB and various underground artists. “The mixes do the talking.”

OZONE WEST // 19 With a pending investigation looming over their successful run in the mixtape game, DJ Drama and Don Cannon are literally victims of their own success. Thou- sands of miles away a pool of West coast jocs felt a need to sound off.

“I think he was targeted unfairly. He’s not one of those DJs who goes down the Top Forty charts and puts the hottest 25 tracks on his mixtape and sells it. Drama was working with the DJ K Tone artists and he had permission from the artists. At the end of the day the problem is that the artist doesn’t own their masters, the label does. So if the label [objects], they can sue you and what’s the artist going to say? It’s their music, but they don’t own it. I’m hopin’ that it doesn’t go through, TURF – Denver, Colorado (Park Hill) cause that would be unfair.” – DJ Juice

HANDLE – “The Turf DJ” “I don’t know all the ins and outs of it, but it just seems like a DJ doin’ his own thing and I PRODUCT – Bricks Superbads & Duffle Bags, guess it turned into a Federal case. I haven’t read up on it enough to speak on it, but you Playa’s Glide, Slap Music, U Don’t Even Know, know… Free Drama! That’s my dude.” - DJ D-Wrek Southern Takeover, Get Money, I’m So Fresh

SHOWSTOPPER – The A List at Blue Ice, Oasis “Because the record industry is so wack and has its head so far up its ass the DJs have actually Cabaret, Club Flow, Denver’s Finest Awards been cakin’ out. Drama and Cannon got attention not because they were making mixtapes, but because they were drivin’ Benzes and off in their face and the record industry was like, ‘Wait, HUSTLE – Internet Radio WOET Radio (o- that’s our bread.’ But if they’re not creative enough and smart enough to get that bread, whose fault entertainment.com) “The cool thing about is that really? If you look at the artists that they’ve worked with in an era where when record sales are it is you’re stretching out your network so definitely decreasing, I think the argument should be made that Drama and cats like that have helped tough. It’s like anybody can log on.” the artists on a certain level.” – DJ Sake 1

CLICK – All Out All Stars, DJs R Us, Elite En- tertainment Group, Lights Out Entertainment “I think it’s fucked up. I don’t know exactly why they got in trouble. I don’t know if it had something to do with copyrights or tax evasion, I don’t know. We’ll see how it pans out. If HOOKUP – djktone.com, myspace.com/djk- they get them on some copyright infringement type shit then that’s gonna change the whole tonedotcom mixtape game. As far as what happened to them I think it’s fucked up that labels don’t get behind DJs more.” – DJ Devro of the Demolition Men SUPER HYPHY – “Denver and The Bay, we grew up on their music. Now the world is getting’ up on the Bay, but we been bumpin’ “A lotta that shit is a test to see what the street really likes. It’s definitely going to separate the Bay since the early ‘90s. We been up on the weak muthafuckas from the real niggas and keep the real niggas in the mixtape game. We the Bay. That’s where a lotta niggas got need to start puttin’ out mixtapes just like albums and shit with a barcode on it and record they style from. We spend a lotta money on original material. That way the RIAA can’t fuck with you.” – DJ Impereal of the Demolition Men their records out there and that’s why they show us love. We been up on the under- ground Bay for years. It’s not even nothin’ “That shit will weed out a lot of the borderline niggas that was just in it to get some paper or new. This was goin’ on in ’02, ’03 with Mac that was pretty much just downloadin’ some shit and puttin’ it out. Now it goes back to really Dre. They been here. You know how fads go. having a relationship with these artists.” – Dow Jones It seems like a fad, but it ain’t no fad. This is how them niggas live.” “Once it got past the street value and it went to big chain stores, that’s when I feel like it got BACK IN THE BOOTH – “The DJ is the core. out of hand. I’m not knockin’ nobody for makin’ money, but when you don’t handle your busi- The DJ is the center of the whole move- ness right, the folks are going to come crack down on you.” - DJ Big Dee ment. If you don’t have a DJ, you’re music ain’t goin’ nowhere. If you’re an artist and you go to a show and there’s no DJ to bring “As far as the artist and DJ relationship, being a mixtape DJ, that’s crucial to me. There’s no your music in, you’re not performing. I feel other way a lot of times. Out here or anywhere, these big corporations and radio take over and like DJs are finally gettin’ the respect they ain’t no other way they get heard other than mixtape DJs. I think it’s a big part of an artists’ deserve.” career to get with the DJ. It’s crucial.” – DJ Moe1

GAME RECOGNIZE GAME – “We run the party. If you go to a party and there’s no DJ, “I think the white man just tryna get his money right now. The mixtape game, no matter what there’s no party. You could have a party they do, they’ll never in their life be able to stop it. I think the RIAA ain’t makin’ no money without a promoter, but you can’t have a from it, but they’ll try to find a way.” - DJ K-Tone party without a DJ. It’s not gonna happen. Niggas been playin’ us to the back for so long, but with groups like The CORE DJs and “[The Affiliates] are the biggest name in mixtapes in the world. When the RIAA wants to send a all these other organizations that bring DJs message, they like to do it by making an example out of key people. They did the same thing together, they have to recognize now.” with a group of college students when illegal downloading on college campuses became a big issue. The RIAA considers mixtapes bootlegged music and they wanna stop it. They figured the best - Words by N. Ali Early way to do it was by getting at the cats that run the mixtape game. The funny part is that many times mixtapes are financed out of labels’ promotion budgets. So something still doesn’t add up.” - DJ Felli Fel

20 // OZONE WEST the outside looking in, 2006 would seem to have been a story- What are you talkin’ about on the album? book-like year for Bay Area newcomer Turf Talk. Riding off the This album is really showin’ a lot of versatility and I’m really lettin’ you success of Turf Talk Brings the Hood, a compilation released a know. A lot of people had questions about me after my first couple of year earlier which featured a myriad of guest appearances and albums. “Is he from LA?”, “Is he from the Bay?” So after this album you gon’ Onshowcased his rapid fire flow, he built enough interest to legitimately claim know everything about Turfy and you gon’ really know what he stand for the Rookie of the Year Award at the BARS Awards. On the flip side, he was a and what it is with him. Also, I had a rough 2006. The music and everything victim of his own success, getting shot and losing unaccommodating homies was good, but as far as life in general, I had a rough time, so I have a lot of in the process. So it doesn’t surprise that his most recent project, West Coast new subjects to talk about and I’m having a little money now. I got a lot to Vaccine: The Cure, is laced with anger, retribution and vivid storylines. It’s talk about. from the soul. What was so tumultuous about 2006 for you? So what’s wrong with the West Coast that it needs a vaccine? People don’t realize how hard it is to transfer from being a real hood nigga, Basically my album was supposed to drop months before. This was before and when I say ‘real hood nigga,’ I don’t mean a nigga that’s out killin’ peo- The Game had dropped and it was around the time when everybody was ple and all that. I’m just talkin’ about a nigga that all he knew was the turf. sayin’ the West Coast was dead. But I don’t think the West Coast is dead cause That’s all I knew. You didn’t have to call my cell phone. All you had to do I’m an up and coming artist. So it was like, “If the West Coast is dead, then was roll through the hood. So going from that to [being] a rapper that got I’ma make the West Coast vaccine because it’s a new face.” So basically that’s a little bit of success out here, I went through a lotta shit with the homies. what I’m runnin’ with right now – the West Coast Vaccine: The Cure is just A lotta the homies is not business-orientated. You gotta go through homies a new generation. We heard Snoop. We heard Ice Cube. We heard E-40. Now feelin’ that they’re left out. You gotta make sure that it’s ways for the people this is the West Coast vaccine. This is the cure. This is the new shit. This is the around you to eat, and you’re still on a minute level tryna make it. I got shot future. earlier that year. It’s just a lot of personal things that I went through. When I was in the booth makin’ this record, I was angry the whole time. I had a lot I feel you, kinda like that new Nike commercial. So who you got ridin’ with of anger. It got club bangers too, but it’s more hardcore than ever. It’s really you? Who are your accomplices? on some gangsta shit for real. Right now, from the gate, when I started my little career and whatnot, I pat- terned myself after Ice Cube for the simple fact that when everybody was on How’d you get shot? the ‘Pac hype, he stayed to himself. When everybody was on the Death Row I just happened to be standin’ by the wrong person at the wrong time. It was hype, he stayed to himself. You never saw him doin’ hella features with other my homeboy and we had just got into some street shit. But the homies gotta artists. He didn’t get down like that. So how I’m makin’ my movement is, I’m understand that if you wanna make it in this rap shit, you either gonna be just showin’ these majors I don’t need no crew ridin’ with me. I don’t need thuggin’ 100% or you gon’ do this music. Some of my homies is still in the nobody ridin’ with me. Turf Talk do his own thang. streets and if you around that then you gotta suffer the consequences that comes with your company and I fell into that. But 2006 really made me a Your buzz in the Bay is real potent right about now, so much so that you won raw-ass businessman now. the Rookie of the Year at the BARS (Bay Area Rap Awards) amidst some pretty stiff competition. How’d that feel? Your big cousin E-40 was pretty instrumental in helping you along the way. Yeah, that was big. At first I really wasn’t trippin’ off winnin’ it, but then it How do you feel about the criticism that’s come his way with respect to the got kinda competitive. Cats started talkin’ about it and it just felt good to movement? know that how I feel, other people felt that way too. With respect comes hate. If you take the ratio of niggas that’s hatin’ to the niggas, it’s like a ratio of 10% of the whole world. It’s like a club. So that’s Was there anything in particular that you did to get them on your side or was how we look at it. The real people and the real street cats that’s reputable it just a matter of being you that reeled them in? out here all respect the Watermelon. You gotta respect 40 ‘cause he done I think what it is, is that I didn’t let people down. When you hear a Turfy brought it to the world. He been doin’ it for fourteen years. He been put feature, I try to give it all that I got. I don’t care if I think the artist [I’m The Bay on the map. They call The Bay the ‘Yay Area’ because of him. If featured with] is weak or whatever. I kinda just try to gas on every track that you hatin’ on 40, you really wastin’ your time. A fan might take off on you I got. It’s not a lot of cats out in the rap game, at least out here to me that for talkin’ about 40. And to tell you the truth, he a family man, but he got really got music in they soul. I’m not sayin’ everybody, but when you do hear enough money to really eliminate niggas from the earth if they playin’. They a person that got music in they soul, it stands out. So I think I just came to should be happy that he’s a good dude. // The Bay and was a person that really just liked being an emcee. It’s not too many rappers out here that consider themselves emcees. - N. Ali Early

OZONE WEST // 21 is street cred is undeniable and unwaveringly solid, part He’s gone on record as saying that the two of you aren’t close, but you of the reason his brother was accepted as the thug that just said that you know he loves you. Why would he go that route if there Hip Hop now adores. Eight months after a breakup with is genuine love there? his brother The Game, George “BigFase100” Taylor is The dude is real contradictory. People use the word “bipolar,” but I don’t ready to tell his side of a story that he insists has been know what the fuck is goin’ on. When I say the nigga loves me, I mean, the corrupted by his younger sibling. nigga always respected me. People come up to me all the time like, “Y’all gon’ be alright. Brothers go through shit.” This nigga’s like four years So what happened? younger than me. It’s a big gap when you’re a child definitely and that Basically when the mission set out it was me and him. A lot of people gap closes when you become adults, but the respect was always there. The came in and they pulled him and he succumbed to those pulls. A lot of nigga never went against me until this shit right here. He did some shit promises that he made to me to get behind him to get it goin’, not a lot of that made me upset a few times and he felt my wrath and took whatever them, well, none of them were kept. There became a time when there were I gave him in return. It wasn’t like, “Fuck you too, nigga.” It was always people that had come into that situation when it was already goin’ on and like, “What can I do to get me and my brother back right?” And that was they started bubblin’ off it and I didn’t have no answers for my kids or off of sheer disappointment. We never had battles. The respect was always nothin’ to put on they plate. It was actually a little less than what I’d been humongous, prolly more than a nigga deserves. I hate to say that, but it providing all my life through my hustle. So I had to step off. was more than I would have given me. So I know he loves a nigga.

How much did music have to do with the relationship that you and your What’s the most contradictory thing he’s said or done, as it relates to your brother developed once things started to pop? relationship? The whole thing was, music was always my thing. Somewhere in there real One thing I read, he said that I’ve always been envious of him. Think- life slapped a nigga in the face so I had to do what I had to do for me ing back, I was tryna make sense out of it with respect to that four year and my people. So I kinda backed off it. Him on the other hand, basi- gap. A sixteen-year-old nigga? I’m doin’ my thang at twenty. What am I cally basketball was his thing and when that failed him, he kinda got up jealous of a sixteen-year-old nigga for when I’m twenty? The way I read under me and started doin’ the shit that I was doin’. That came with tryna it, he said it didn’t start in this rap shit, that I’ve always been envious of gangbang and tryna rap and shit. When he pushed the rap thing I damn him. The only thing I’ve ever been envious of is that he had my father at sure got behind him and gave him all the tools I had so niggas could get his house and I didn’t. But I never let that show and I never let that fuck up outta Compton and see something better for ourselves. But ultimately up our relationship. The nigga would fuck over anybody before he would the nigga didn’t have my best interests at hand and before it got too bad fuck over me. That’s the way it’s always been between me and him until I had to step off. this shit.

What was the mood like when you left? What promises were made? If he’s been telling the story of a gangsta – It wasn’t negative when I stepped off. It was just basically that I had to I’ll take that credit, but that’s the part of it that’s going to build me the go. I always stayed optimistic because I knew the nigga loved me. So I right type of reputation in the eyes of the world and the eyes of the just waited for the nigga to come to his senses and come holla at me, but people that are listening. Tell ‘em the truth. Don’t tell ‘em you just started that never happened. I had told one of my friends that came along in this rappin’ four years ago. Tell ‘em that your brother used to rap and your fa- music shit that he a good dude and he’ll come to his senses. He was like, ther is a poet by nature. Tell ‘em that this shit is in you and you just tuned “I don’t think so.” He was in the studio when Game had recorded “Two into another talent that you already have. When I say “promises,” I mean Occasions.” He called me a couple days later with the song, and this is like when he got signed. I got a personal call when he got signed and he was eight months before the album came out. I listened to it on the phone and like, “We with [Dr.] Dre, dawg. We gon’ be rich.” Nigga get a Bentley and I Game didn’t know he was callin’ anybody. He just picked it up and I was on get a little cash money. A nigga get a Range Rover and I get a Magnum in the phone and he let the shit play. But I saw how he was really feelin’ and his manager’s name. Where the fuck is it for me to win at? It’s not. So just that’s how my boy told me he was feelin’. I just was in denial like, “Nah, let me figure out what I need to do, cause I’m a leader and not a follower. my lil nigga love me. He’ll be alright.” So once I heard that song I kinda understood what dude was tryna tell me. Like all that gang shit, gimme that, but whatever. I wasn’t supposed to be no gangbanger. I’m from the hood, but I’m from the part of the hood That must’ve been hard considering how much faith you had in him. What where all the family turned out to be college graduates and shit. I’m the was your next plan of action? black sheep of that family. This my mother’s side of the family. This ain’t Bottom line, I pulled my stock out. Nah, he ain’t that real as we tried to his people. My dad side of the family, it’s all types of fuck-ups. I’m the make it seem. Why did I support him in the beginning? I felt like he could only fuck-up in the house I grew up in. Give me the credit I deserve. I’m say it because he was representing me. If I’m behind that and this is what not just no street nigga. I’m a good nigga and I’m a smart nigga. I just got the pass then it was always acceptable. But if you ain’t right by the happen to be a street nigga. I’m one of those. It just happened. But we nigga’s story who you tellin’, then it’s all bad. So I’m just pushin’ Brazil got 50% of the same blood runnin’ through our body. If he anything like Street Records right now. What I got right now is my youngest sister, which me he’ll be alright. I won’t blame the blood that ain’t the same for the is his youngest sister, B-Fly. And then I got a group too named Lost Souls. bullshit. It’s something in his head, but hopefully he’ll be alright. But at They outta Compton too. I got like six acts, but the most ready acts I got the same time I can’t be waitin’ for that nigga to get his head right and if are those two. Then I got this DVD comin’ called Ain’t No Game. It’s like I gotta holla about this shit in public, I will. // The Documentary Revisited, where I really break everything down and give people a full understanding along with visuals. - N. Ali Early

22 // OZONE WEST A lot of people thought“ it was hate when I pulled my stock out [of my brother The Game’s career], but a nigga ain’t finna fuck me. I know what “I put into this project.

words \\ N. Ali Early

OZONE WEST // 23

You take a Mack, put him in a he“ - licopter, strip him naked and drop him anywhere in the world; I bet you “he drive back with two pockets full of money.

was once the Bay Area’s shining light. At only fifteen years old, again. It basically lit my fire and gave me drive again. his no holds barred, arrogant approach on his debut album Illegal Business earned him prince like status and an open path What do you liken your experience in the game to? to one day claim the throne Too $hort held down. After the This music shit is janky. I describe it like a bitch – a fine ass bitch who fuck wit’ everybody. She fuck wit Puffy and ‘em. She fuck with Trick Daddy and ‘em, Nelly Hebreakout album – Untouchable – his name became synonymous with another Bay Area favorite, Tupac Shakur. But after a brief stint in the City of Angels, and ‘em. Before, I expected the bitch to be faithful. It was like, “Aw, bitch, you Mall tried his luck in Vegas. The gamble proved to be a successful one, as can’t be cheatin’ on me.” Now it’s like, “Okay.” But the bitch get by me, I’ma whis- the Country Club Crest (Vallejo, CA) native willingly became the product of a per in her ear and try to keep her by me. world that swelled his pockets, but stifled his artistry in the process. Along those lines, was pimpin’ a natural progression for you or was it more of an Still, Mall is the orator of twelve complete albums since 1993. OZONE caught escape from the game? up with the Mac to find out how he renewed his fervor for the game with his I play chess, not checkers. My whole thing is being the smartest nigga. So when it most recent release, Thizziana Stoned and the Temple of Shrooms, and just came to the game, it was all about a man and his brain. You gotta survive by your how he’s coping as CEO of Thizz Entertainment. wits. You can’t have a gun, none of that shit in your brain. So that always like, juiced me up. But, it also took from me. It took two and a half years. I didn’t do So where have you been? no rappin’, but it made me strong. But I wasn’t being who I am. I wasn’t doin’ the When Dre died I became one of the CEOs of Thizz and dedicated my whole music shit. career to this whole Thizz Nation Cutthroat Music. It took me about a year to make my whole record because I was CEO’n and tryna make all the new What was the good that you found in it? artists we have on our label stars: J Diggs, Crest Creepers, and Money Game. When you in the game it’s just you and yourself, your brain. Your tongue is your So once we put it down, it was time for me to do my thang. My new record is gun and you just gotta think. So that always attracted me. Plus, I wasn’t no PI. I Thizziana Stone and the Temple of Shrooms and that’s my first Thizz release. was a Mac. The difference is this: A PI, a real pimp? He don’t eat if the bitch don’t It’s like I got my swagger back. It’s like I just started. I feel how I felt when pay him. A real pimp don’t sell dope. He don’t jack niggas. He don’t do npthin’ but Illegal Business came out. get paid by a ho. But a Mac is a fuckin’ master at everything. If you give a Mac a sack, he know what to do with it. You give a Mac a gat, he know how to react. You Why didn’t you blow up? Why didn’t you become the nigga that we all wanted give a Mac a bitch, he know what to do with the shit. You take a Mac, put him in a you to be by the time you were 25? helicopter, strip him naked and drop him anywhere in the world; I bet you he drive It wasn’t my time. I wasn’t ready for it. If I woulda got that shit then it back with two pockets full of money. woulda killed me. I had to go through shit. I’m a real artist in that, the shit that I experience in my life makes my art. If I woulda got it back then I How often do you get back to the Crest? wouldn’t have been ready for it. I wasn’t ready for it; mentally, physically, all Oh, all my family live there. I got one of the biggest families in the Crest. My that shit. So me, I don’t believe God makes mistakes and it wasn’t my time. grandmother just died, so when I go out there for me, it’s kinda weird not having her there. But the Crest is the Crest. Any of us, from Dooby, Money Gang, Miami, to Outside of what happened to Dre, what did you have to go through before Kilo, we all the same. No matter what I do, I’m always going to be a Crest nigga. you could really express yourself in order to become the artist that you It’s love. We call the Crest the Womb and ain’t nuthin’ like it. This whole Thizz shit wanted to be? is based in the Crest. I was thinkin’ about this shit last night, thinkin’ about when I first started. Somebody asked me, “If you knew what you was gon’ go through, would you With respect to the CEO hat that you’ve been wearing, how do you feel about the still rap?” And I had to say, “Yeah,” even though it was fucked up shit, all the movement and how it’s taken off? hate and the shit you go through as an artist, all that shit. I went through It’s kinda scary, but it’s beautiful, dude. We did some shit that’s never been done that, fuckin’ pimpin’, spent years livin’ in Vegas when I didn’t do no rappin’ in The Bay. We got a rapper in every city from Sacramento to Seaside, and it’s at all. I got in a car wreck last year. Me and Ray Luv damn near died. My like, this shit has never been done. We got every side of every janky curb workin’ pa’tna died in my arms. Right on Embarcadero, me and Ray Luv got thrown together. Nobody’s gettin’ robbed and everybody’s takin’ care of they family. I out of the car. He broke a vertebrae in his back, all types of shit. They said he gotta give Kilo props for that ‘cause he was the one who really put it down as far wasn’t going to walk for like a year, but God makes the rules. All that shit? as connecting The Bay. Can’t nobody hate on Thizz cause we feedin’ somebody in Pressure make diamonds. your neighborhood.

Is there a different method for you when it comes to penning rhymes as a What happens when someone else gets credit for something that originated in the 30-year-old man? Nation? Me and Furl got to do a record before he got killed called US Open and the Real recognize real. The shit that we doin’ happened in the Crest because of Furl. time that I spent with [him] really taught me how to be free and just be my- Mac Dre is the flag that Thizz Nation waves. You can’t fake this shit, man, come on. self. He was just an individual. He was comfortable in his person. He taught You can try to fake it but a muthafucker gon’ see through you. But I don’t trip off me how to be Thizzlamic. When I first started I thought that I was supposed no shit like that because at the end of the day, real recognize real shit. It might to have all this shit. Now I cherish this shit. You know how you need air, get me mad a little bit, but this shit is natural to me. So while niggas try to bite it water and food to live? I need air, water, food and music. Then, me being and make it up, this shit is natural. I used to trip back in the day, but man, a biter the CEO of the company, I got to work around all these young artists and it is a biter. You can’t stop the sun from shinin’. // fulfilled me. I got to talk to them, chop it up with them and they respected me for the shit that I put down. Them dudes really made me love this shit - N Ali Early

24 // OZONE WEST by Randy Roper

C-Bo DJ Whoo Kid & DJ E Rock MONEY TO BURN Bay Bidness If hyphy music hasn’t reached its pinnacle it’s getting After 13 years in the game, California veteran C-Bo is close, especially with the biggest bootlegger on the still dropping solid releases. Although C-Bo is assisted by planet dropping hyphy mixtapes. For the third time, Whoo guest appearances on 13 of 15 album cuts from the likes Kid goes stupid with San Fran’s DJ E Rock to deliver new of the Outlawz, Baby Bash and Sean Paul of the Young- and exclusive music from E-40, Turf Talk, Mistah FAB and “ bloodz, C-Bo commands attention and brings his A-game. a host of other Bay Area artists. With Whoo Kid and E Whether you’re in the Dirty Dirty, Big Apple or Midwest, this Rock setting things up, going dumb and yellow bus riding West coast emcee deserves some undivided attention. never sounded better.

Diego Redd & DJ Warrior Willie Joe and DJ Smallz Gettin’ Money, Gettin’ Paid Free Agent Bay Area transplant and current Atlanta resident Willie On Gettin’ Money, Gettin’ Paid, Diego Redd proves he’s Joe is still in search of a major label to call home. Here, capable of helping to bring the West coast back. Diego he attempts to up the ante and give labels a reason to lyrically and conceptually certifies himself as a West Coast make him a priority. Although Free Agent has high points newcomer to pay attention to as he drops 23 tracks of like “Get ‘Em Got ‘Em” featuring Da Great Yola and the Jo- pure, unadulterated heat. Even when paired with the van Dais-laced “Good Ass Music,” the majority of Willie’s likes of Mistah FAB, Serius Jones and GLC, Redd is never mixtape is filled with sub-par remixes and freestyles over overshadowed. instrumentals like Rich Boy’s “Throw Some D’s.”

Big Rich & THE Demolition Men Dow Jones & Mistah FAB Block Tested, Hood Approved Recess Mistah FAB’s video would lead you to believe that ghost Big Rich’s name is buzzing out West, and this mixtape riding whips and spitting ignorant bars is the gist of shows the reasons why. On Block Tested, Hood Approved, hyphy and FAB’s rhyme style. But on Recess, da Yellow the San Francisco rapper flaunts his hood approval with Bus Rydah silences his critics by going hard lyrically over tracks like “Where I’m From” and “What’s Beef” featur- instrumental tracks like “Hustlin’” and “Mr. Me Too.” After ing San Quinn. Without question, Big Rich is a name to hearing Recess listeners will know that Mistah FAB is not remember. only dumb, stupid and retarded, but lyrical too.

OZONE WEST // 25 end zone The Pack live

Location: San Francisco, CA Venue: Club Fanatics Event: New Year’s Eve Date: December 31st, 2006

Photo: D-Ray

26 // OZONE WEST