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Home , Dogg Food, Keak da Sneak, Mac Dre, Surviving the Times, Turf Talk

RAW, UNCENSORED WEST COAST RAP SHIT

featuring ozone award nominees DPG KEAK ROCCETT THE PACK G MALONE DA MISTAH FAB SNEAK WILLY NORTHPOLE & MORE OZONE MAG //   // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG //   // OZONE MAG OZONE MAG //   // OZONE MAG I’M JUST SAYIN’ THO

Publisher Julia Beverly BY D-RAY Editor-in-chief Jessica “Mz Jae” Hagmaier

Editor-AT-LARGE D-Ray

GRAPHIC DESIGNER David KA

Music EditorS Randy Roper Maurice G. Garland got to catch a shot of him at a show, and boy, I waited! I would’ve been gone if it wasn’t Wayne in ADVERTISING SALES the Bay. He shut the shit down. He’s made history Che Johnson not only for his first day record sales but for selling Isiah Campbell LL Cool J - Everyone knows the OG in the game out the latest Wild Jam just two days after The Carter 10 can’t deny his fame. I’m a female at a LL Cool J show III hit stores. He rocked the house and ended his Contributors in San Jose, and I must say that he is an all-around show by thanking his fans and telling them he is Big Fase 100, DJ BackSide, five-star entertainer. I’ve never been able to photo- thankful for them, and it’s because of them that he DJ E-Z Cutt, Gary Archer, graph his show because I’m too busy watching it! can make his living. So beautiful! Wayne’s Carter III Jelani, Jessica Essien, has not left my deck. He’s deep! If you’re hating on Joey Colombo, Kay Newell, Run-DMC - I saw them on my birthday at a club in Weezy, get a better hobby, or a better day job cause Keita Jones, Luvva J, Nippy 9 called DV8 and I recall just putting my you’ve got too much time on your hands. West Coast Swagga, Portia Jackson, camera down to enjoy “My Adidas.” That’s OG. End Zone issue #68, peep my shot! Shemp, Todd Davis, Ty Watkins Mary J Blige - Mary is so in touch with her feelings. Tech N9ne - I knew his music, I knew his face from 8 She sings about real-life moments to put her fans 3 magazine ads, I knew his wrapped truck - well, Street Reps in that hypnotic mood. I recall shooting her show that’s a lot to know about this guy considering Anthony Deavers, Bigg on Mother’s Day in Concord, CA. There were mothers, that DJs don’t play his music like they should. He’s P-Wee, Bigthangs, Big Will, boyfriends, and husbands in the building, and the serious and promotes his projects, with or without Dee1, Demolition Men, DJ whole place had a memory to go home with on a radio. I happened to be in Vegas one year when he Jam-X, DJ Juice, DJ KTone, very special day. Her message is always deep and had a show at the New Orleans Casino with Busta DJ Nik Bean, DJ Quote, DJ passionate. Mary is the only female on this list for Rhymes, DMX, and Mistah FAB. That was my first Tech Skee, DJ Strong & Warrior, J a reason! N9ne show and it was so dope I talked about it a Hype, Jasmine Crowe, John lot. See, I’m still talkin’ about it! You have to see his Costen, Juice, Kewan Lewis, - This was just a plain dope experience, show. He’s on point at all times during his set. Do Luvva J, Maroy, Rob J Of- 7 not to mention that it was history: Snoop perform- you, Tech! ficial, Rob Reyes, Shauntae ing in his hometown of LBC for the first time! He Hill, Sherita Saulsberry, killed it. He did “Murder Was The Case” alongside Mistah FAB - I have so many stories about his Sly Boogy, Syd Robertson, a dope interview with Power 106’s morning show, 2 growth, I could do a whole Top 10 list of him Tonio, Twin, William Major, Backstage Breakfast with Big Boy! What it do Fuzzy? through my camera. Fab does the dopest freestyles Zack Cimini at his shows! The real freestyles, not pre-styles. Eminem & D12 - This was one of my first press Fans get a real heart-felt show. I captured a picture COVER CREDITS 6 junkets with a magazine. I got to go kick it with Em, of him at the Wild 94.9 Bomb concert with him facing photo by and I had just seen him not too long before he blew the crowd of 20,000 with their T’s up for . Trevor Traynor. at a Bomb concert in San Jose in his grimy-looking long-sleeved Budweiser Beer t-shirt. I was told, David Banner - I recall my first David Banner show “Take his photo. He’s going to blow!” I looked again 1 at the Tech.Nitions Conference in Vegas. He jumped and said, “Ummm, no.” So I learned to never, never off the stage and swung off the ceiling pipes into underestimate someone based on their fashion the crowd and just stayed there rockin’, giving love sense (or lack of). I was blessed with a great chance to his fans. That was early in his career, so to see CONTENTS to be at their meet and greet and also shoot the him rock at a show today, nothing has changed. He’s show, where I saw Em in person kill it. Not to men- a wild man in the crowd, letting the fans that paid 9 THE JACKA tion, I got a great shot of him and Proof on stage to see him remember him with no blurred vision! 10 ROCCETT together that I love. My bad for judging you, Em. Banner keeps that humble side to him that has 11 DPG Thanks to one of my favorite publicists, Tresa! taken him to where he is today! 13 MISTAH FAB 14 JAY ROCK Mac Dre - I’ve been a Mac Dre fan since the late 16 TOO $HORT 5 80s, no lie. When I started shooting Dre’s shows, I would just try to get in with my digital camera. All my memories are gone except a few because I 20-21 was premature to the digital game and didn’t back up the computer, and it crashed. Now that a hater KEAK DA SNEAK murdered him, all I have is memories and a frozen moment of his last birthday performance that he 17 WILLY NORTHPOLE left us to remember him by! He was so fly that night, 18 GLASSES MALONE just gigglin’ and bustin’ all his hits. T.I.P. Dre!

Lil Wayne - Wayne, the youngest Hot Boy! The swag 4 he brings to the stage is straight RockStar. He’s got a great show. I was one of the select people that

OZONEOZONE WEST MAG //   // OZONE MAG I Am The Streets – Street credibility is always important. Even 10 though I’m out here on the radio and doing my thing I don’t forget where I came from. I know the dudes I looked up to might have rapped, but they were getting their paper in other ways. I just want the lil dudes lookin up to me to see a dude that’s actually getting paid for this rap shit.

I’ve Been To Jail – Anyone who’s been there before can tell you it’s 9 a good place to master your craft. It can be a good place for a rap- per because you’re around different kind of attitudes and different kind of people. You’ve got a lot on your mind in there, so it’s a good place to really learn what to say.

I’m Independent – There’s really nothing more that needs to be 8 said. I’m The Hardest Working Rapper In The Game – I’ve never had a 7 record deal. I sell a lot more records then probably anyone with a deal, doing the same thing I’m doing and I’m killin’ ‘em.

I’m A Cool Ass Dude – When you meet me I’m the same person with 6 everybody. I’m the same dude whether I’m wit’ my grandma or wit’ the A&Rs. You know what I mean?

I’m A Handsome Ass Dude! – I’m definitely handsome enough to be 5 one of the top artists in the world! I Have My Own Label – I don’t have to be signed as an artist. They 4 gotta come at me with a distribution deal! I’m The Underground Artist Of The Year – I’m the Bay Area’s Under- 3 ground Artist of the Year. I won an award for that. OZONE Magazine – I’ve been in there a million times. That’s one 2 thing the industry knows me for, and that’s always a big deal. I’m Actually Dope – I’m not a gimmick. The only thing I use to sell 1 records is the pure gift. A nigga’s fly when it comes to this music shit. A nigga’s raw, you know what I’m saying? That’s why they “All Over Me.” I’d bring swag to the whole staff, man!

Nominated for Patiently Waiting:

As told to Mz Jae

OZONEOZONE WEST MAG //  Stop Wearing Shirts that Don’t Fit You – Where can you hide 10 the burner at? Where you gonna put your burner if you got on a s/medium? If you’re 200 pounds you shouldn’t have no tight shirt on. Keep it G.

Speak from Your Heart – If you’re gonna make music you 9 need to speak what you know. Don’t fabricate nothing you do. If you G about it, your music should speak for itself.

Don’t Kiss Ass – You don’t gotta kiss nobody’s ass in the 8 music industry. You can make friends but you don’t gotta be an ass kisser. 7 Be All About Your Money – Hoes come later. Focus on Your Goals – If you got a goal, make sure you 6 meet that. Don’t let no haters get in your way. Keep your focus and don’t let nobody knock you off your block. Go out there and get it.

Handle Your Business No Matter What – If you got a prob- 5 lem with somebody you need to handle that. Don’t keep ongoing beef. It leads to deaths.

Never Associate with Snitches – I don’t care if it’s your 4 brother, your cousin, your auntie, your mama – it’s not allowed.

Rep Your Hood to the Fullest – It don’t matter if you’re 3 from a small city or a big city. You can be the nigga to put your city on the map.

Stay Away from Messy Bitches – Messy bitches will have 2 you caught up in some shit. Don’t Discuss Your Business Over the Phone – Doing too 1 much talking to people about street business over the phone can get you a lot of time in jail, so use pay phones and do a lot of meetings but don’t discuss your business over the phone.

Nominated for Patiently Waiting California

As told to Ms. Rivercity

1100 // // OZONE OZONE WEST MAG

The Formula – We changed the whole formula for selling 5 records and making music. We brought uniqueness to the table. Dr. Dre, , and DPG, we changed the whole face of .

Variety – With us, we had everything in one. All our col- 4 laborations were done from the inside the camp. We had more variety as one.

Evolution – Everything evolved after us. We brought life DAZ 3 back into Hip Hop. Record sales stepped up after us; we brought the million dollar record deals to the table. We Style – Style in the form of our music, with the concepts brought Hip Hop to a whole new level. 5 we were delivering and the overall quality of the music. Now everybody uses bits and pieces of what we started in Organization and Inspiration – We taught people how to do their raps. 2 it. We were a part of the greatest organization in Hip Hop period. We taught people how to sell their records by their Creativity – We’re still here. There’s not much more to say. damn selves. After us The Firm, No Limit, and Bad Boy were 4 After all this time we’re still here. all runnin’ their shit how we ran ours. Originality – In the 90s when N.W.A started, and when we Liberation – We weren’t afraid to say anything. We fought 3 started, we started that gangsta shit. We’re veterans of all 1 for the people who weren’t afraid to speak their mind. Say the stuff that was going down in that era and we’re still what you say, express yourself. People from the establish- here. ment tried to shut that shit down. From the C. Delores Tuckers to the Rev. Al Sharptons, to everybody trying to put Swag – Having a unique style, hanging with unique people, a hold on , we brought liberation to the table. 2 always being there, love moving, can adapt to anything We fought for the right to be able to say whatever you that’s going down. want. Now if you want to say “nigga” you say “nigga,” and if you want to say “bitch” you say “bitch.” We put the G in Production – We’ve produced classics like “Ambitionz of a gangsta and brought the streets in the game. Ridah,” “I Ain’t Mad At Cha,” and “Got Your Mind Made Up.” 1 Nominated for Best Group West Coast As told to Mz Jae

OZONEOZONE WEST MAG // 11 12 // OZONE MAG Girls – I got to have some girls on the bus. I need Zaria 10 from The Parent Hood. She was bad to me, she gotta be on the bus. Raven Simone, I’d have to get with her and try and talk her out of a few dollars. I’d need Oprah on the bus. We would sit up in the back and have a long talk. I would just have some important women on the bus.

A.F.N.F – My homies gotta be on the bus, and I’ve gotta 9 have my family on there. A.F.N.F. All family, no friends. Ev- erybody that’s in that circle knows who they are, no need to say any names.

My DJ – Can’t go nowhere without my DJ, Tito Bell a.k.a. Kanye West – I need Kanye on the bus, man. We gotta talk Chello, right? He’s the real life of the party. 8 about how he’s just choked the game, and how’s he’s one 4 of the only artists that doesn’t care what nobody says. I OZONE Magazine – I gotta have OZONE Mag on there! need to learn a few things from him. Kanye is the truth right now. He’s layin’ the foundation for artists like me. I’m 3 My Mama – My mama gotta be on the bus because she’s like the Bay Kanye: spoiled brat, cocky, arrogant, still hella goin’ to keep it lit. She’s going to get us even more girls. cool, but don’t give a fuck what anybody gotta say. 2 She’s a girl magnet and she’s goin’ to bring the purple. And when we need some food she’s going to hook it up! The whole One West Movement – All my rap homies that Mom’s got to be on the bus! 7 really get down with me. Glasses Malone, Ice Cube, Roccett, , when he get outta jail, Jay Rock, , Bishop God – I want God on the bus. Without God there is no Lamont, Beeda Weeda, The Jacka, , Snoop Dogg, direction. With a power and belief in him you can go Too $hort, Mack 10, they know who they are. All my cats 1 anywhere. So I always want him riding with me. That’s a trying to unite the west coast, not just Cali, but Oregon, very important passenger on the bus. Arizona, Nevada, Seattle, Alaska, they WHOLE west coast. Nominated for Best Rap Artist West Coast Some Comedy – We definitely gotta have some comedy on the bus. Someone like Mike Epps, or Katt Williams. I need 6 As told to Mz Jae // Photo by D-Ray another life of the party on the bus, so definitely one of them.

My stylist – His name is Garfield, but everybody calls him G. 5 Field. He does it all, he styles, cuts hair, he does every- thing. He’s that go-to guy.

OZONEOZONE WEST MAG // 13 I’m a Real Blood Nigga – If you don’t buy 10 my record I’ma have to kill yo’ ass. Night Job – I need you to buy my record 9 so I can quit my night job jacking folks. Bitches – Everybody needs to buy my re- 8 cord and make me famous, that way I can give it to all these bitches that wouldn’t give me no pussy when I didn’t have nothing.

Hoe Ass Niggas – Buy my record cause some 7 of these other niggas records you be buyin’ is police, snitches, and just down right pussy ass niggas.

I’m In Debt – I owe Top Dawg Entertainment 6 and Warner Bros. about a half million dollars and if I don’t re-coup I’m in trouble.

Nevermind – Y’all ain’t gotta go buy my record, 5 fuck all y’all! Nah, I’m just bullshittin’. Go out there and get my shit, cause my shit is the bomb!

Fake Ass Jewelry – Buy my record so I can stop robbin’ 4 these fools that come in my town with this fake ass jewelry on. It’s not turning a profit!

I Keep It Real – I spit that real, uncut, straight hood shit. All 3 that other shit niggas is spittin’ is straight fairytales. I’ma Real Hood Nigga – I’ma real hood nigga and feel all 2 the same things that other real niggas from real hoods feel. Everything about me is real, ain’t no fake, ain’t no playin’.

I Fucks With Everybody – I’m spittin’ some shit that everybody 1 can relate to. I’m the first nigga to spit some real hood shit since Pac. Everybody’s been trying to do it but they’ve been putting out straight bullshit. My shit is real life situations that everybody feel and everybody can relate to. At least anyone who’s been in the ghetto all their life.

Nominated for Patiently Waiting: California

As told to Mz Jae

1144 // // OZONE OZONE WEST MAG OZONE MAG // 15 They’re Repetitive – The hottest artists 10 of the year win at every award show, so they all look like reruns.

Too Many Egos - Unimportant people 9 all try to act like VIPs and keep saying things like, “Don’t you know who I am???”

They’re Too Long - The pre-shows and 8 the post-shows are as long as the actual award shows.

It’s Just A Fashion Show - Everybody 7 talks about what everybody else is wearing.

The Afterparties Are More Fun - There’s 6 nothing else to say. Overkill - There are just too many dif- 5 ferent award shows in one year. They’re Expensive - The clothes, hotel 4 rooms, and flights are not worth it just for somebody to say “congratulations” and give you a trophy.

Lame Performances - I could just go to 3 a “real” Beyonce concert if I wanted to see her perform.

Kanye West Syndrome - Some people are 2 too sensitive and get mad when their favorite artist doesn’t win.

They’re Biased - I have five platinum al- 1 bums, one double platinum , four gold , and have never won shit!

Nominated for Best Rap Album West Coast

Photo by Julia Beverly

1616 // // OZONE OZONE W MAGEST Me Against the World – 2Pac – I swear to God, that album was so 10 close to me I thought Pac was from my hood. Everything he said on that album was me. How he came with “Outlaw” and “Fuck the World” and “Me Against the World,” and even with “Can You Get Away,” Pac made it cool to be romantic with a female. You have to respect that. He was saying real shit. My favorite song was “So Many Tears.” I lost so many homies and that song was just me all around. Out of all the albums on my list, that’s the one that emo- Life After Death – Notorious B.I.G. – I liked Ready to Die but Life After tionally touched me the most. 5 Death was my favorite. At the time when Ready to Die came out, I was really into the West coast music. I loved Biggie, his swag was crazy, Lethal Injection – Ice Cube – That’s Cube’s best album. I don’t know but at the time I was just getting into New York music. That’s when I 9 if Cube was a Muslim at the time or what, but he had a chip on his really started listening to Biggie. I went to jail when Life After Death shoulder with America and he wasn’t afraid to say it. Every song on came out. That was in ’95. The whole reason I got into East Coast Lethal Injection was a story. Cube always had a talent for writing music was because the East Coast/West Coast beef was going on. stories. He was the mastermind behind N.W.A. I respect Cube for what he stood for. The Blueprint – Jay-Z – That album speaks for itself. As far as Jay-Z’s 4 albums go, this was probably the only album where I liked every & – – You could mix both of these together. single song. People were sleeping on his last few albums before that, 8 These albums had the same effect on me – it’s just different gen- except for Hard Knock Life. I think The Blueprint was a classic. That’s erations of music. Nas was New York. He was so ahead of his time when I was introduced to Kanye West and Just Blaze as producers. I with Illmatic. That was Nas’ #1 album of all time. If you listened think their style made producers step they game up. to it you knew Nas was gonna be a problem. I was a big fan of the whole Nas vs. Jay-Z thing, seeing who was gonna say what. American Gangster – Jay-Z – That album just did something to me. 3 I’m a rapper and lyricist so I listen to lyrics. I think Jay-Z reached Doggy Style – Snoop Dogg – This was hands down Snoop’s best his peak with this album. He took his whole swag and put it on the 7 album. It was a funny, well put together album, even with the car- album. Plus, American Gangster was an anticipated movie. I used to toon album cover. It was something different. And who didn’t want work out to this album when it first came out. It was something I to be signed to Death Row at that time? Snoop could turn from a used to listen to all the time. gangster to a pimp and people respected him. Snoop was ahead of his time. Even now with the “Sexual Seduction” and the wigs he Dogg Food – – That was like the prime of my life, puts on, Snoop is more than a rapper, he’s an entertainer. Even with 2 as far as being a knucklehead. Snoop is still the man, but back then, the pimp character he plays with the buck teeth and everything, even if you were a Blood you were damn near cool with Crips just Snoop is probably the only emcee that could pull that off and keep because of Snoop. He brought that whole new vibe. I really respected his street credit. He’s the best West Coast artist in my opinion. that whole movement.

Straight Outta Compton – N.W.A – I think Eazy E was what DJ Quik The Chronic – Dr. Dre – Dre came like a beast. He came with a whole 6 was when he came into the game. His voice just stood out and the 1 new slang. I liked the whole swag and the new team. He had Daz, delivery was crazy. I know they used to shit on him and try to say Rage, Kurupt, Snoop. Everything from top to bottom, from the beats that Cube wrote his lyrics. Regardless of how it came across, Easy to the flow, was the best. He had the best female emcee, the best was a star – from his image to the way he lived. I remember they duo – Daz & Kurupt, the best solo artist – Snoop Dogg, plus him. Of used to wear the leather gloves and I used to try to mimic them course, that was when the West coast was at its peak and had the when I was 9 years old, with the workout gloves and flannels. game on lock, with the whole Death Row movement. Besides the songs, Eazy is what made me like the album. The whole N.W.A movement started the West Coast getting respect in my eyes. I Honorable Mention: ATLiens – Outkast think a lot of people from the South and East Coast were influenced Nominated for Patiently Waiting: Arizona by that, which was a good thing. As told to Ms Rivercity // Photo by Hannibal Matthews

OZONEOZONE WEST MAG // 17 Once I Left Sony, I Had a Deal Within 20 Minutes – At first I didn’t 7 Arrests Deep and I Never Snitched – Nobody wants to go to 5 think I was gonna get released from Sony ‘cause of everything going 10 prison and deal with the consequences of their actions. For me, on. But I talked to a dude named K.P. – shout out to him ‘cause he re- a lot of times I had money for attorneys. I was able to get my ally did something special for my career – and he was able to get me charges dropped. I’m still going through a lot right now. The released. I was in Mack 10’s office trying to get someone else a deal police harass me in my neighborhood and are like, “We hear that with Mack 10 when I got a call from K.P. telling me I was released. you’re the man around here. We hear you sell drugs.” I’m like, Mack 10 overheard me talking to K.P. and asked me how much money “Y’all crazy as fuck.” I coulda been out here puttin’ niggas on did I need. He called Bryan Turner in from and we with work. I coulda stayed out here if I was gonna do that. They worked it out right there on the spot. I walked out with a deal. swear that I’m the man on some big dawg shit. I’m Signed to the #1 Baller Out West and Down South [Blu Division/ I’m From the West and I Made It Past 25 Years Old – If you’re from 4 Hoo Bangin’/Cash Money] – Mack 10 is the biggest baller out West, 9 the Los Angeles area – Watts, Compton, South Central, Englewood hands down. He shines harder than anybody. He got the coldest car – whether you’re Blood or Crip, you’re born into the conflict. game. His crib is colder than most of these niggas out here rappin’. Every day you’re a target, no matter if you gangbang or not. It’s And of course, Stunna Man in New Orleans. People know what his all about affiliation, where you’re from. It’s a forever-going beef. money looks like. Every day you’re ducking and dodging bullets, trying to stay out of the morgue. I Push a Bentley Without Ever Releasing an Album – I’m a real street 3 dude. I deal with ballers. They put me on how to get my whip. They I Actually Used to Lowride on Crenshaw Blvd. – It’s only been threw me the keys to the Bentley, no questions. From then on, I can 8 3 successful rappers on major labels that lowride on Crenshaw. whip out a couple of old-schools, a new Silverado. It’s ignorant. Mack 10 was the biggest rapper ever that used to lowride on Crenshaw. No other rappers, I don’t care what they lie about in I Had the #1 Record in L.A. Talkin’ Ignorant as Hell on the Song – If they raps, can say they ride. Mac 10 is the only rapper I remem- 2 you heard “Certified,” I talked super shit on that song. I pulled my ber seeing out there in ‘95-‘97 lowriding. With his career, he was shit out in front of everybody like, “Look – I’m the man out here. Fuck still out there posted up lowriding. 9 times out of 10 they’d be what everybody else is on.” Enough niggas understood my record out there shooting because it’s so many enemies out there. I do and was like, “He a real nigga. This is the coldest record on Power 106 remember seeing Dub C. He wasn’t into lowriding at that time, even with this nigga talkin’ all this crazy, outlandish shit.” For the but he was out there. No other rappers were out there during streets and radio to embrace it the way they did, I think that spoke a ‘95-‘99. You gotta remember I’m kinda young compared to other lot about my character. rappers. People remember me out there lowriding and still hit me up about it to this day. The Only Crip Who Can Do All Blood Shows – I believe it has some- 1 thing to do with my faith in God. God wanted me to be able to put Million Dollar Deal Later and I Still Street Race – That’s in my that on. It’s not about street credibility. I don’t care what I did in my 7 blood. That’s what I do. I’ll never stop street racing. I don’t care past; people don’t care about that. This is about God, and people pos- if I make 20 million dollars. I don’t give a fuck what the police sibly seeing past my rag and wanting to hear what I have to say. By say. It’s as hell but that’s what I do. That’s why I under- the time I’m done, most of the time people are like, “This nigga is on stand a lot of rappers. Everybody was on T.I. talking about he’s some real life shit.” It also has to do with me not believing in what got millions of dollars, why’s he buying guns? He can buy guns; I was born into. I’m hood and I’m a Crip, but I don’t believe in that he’s a real street nigga. That’s what he do. A real nigga gon’ be a natural hate for Bloods. In Watts, it’s more about neighborhoods than real nigga. It’s the same thing with me and street racing. I’ma be Crips and Bloods. I don’t believe in the system of Crips and Bloods. me no matter what. Being able to see past that has helped me be able to make the type of records I make, maybe some life-changing shit. I’ve Performed in All 3 Projects in Watts – Nickerson Gardens, 6 Jordan Downs, and Imperial Courts. I done got down in all of ‘em. Nominated for Patiently Waiting California As told to Ms Rivercity // Photo by D-Ray

1188 // // OZONE OZONE WEST MAG OZONE MAG // 19 KEAK DA SNEAK surviving the times

Keak da Sneak has lived through both the Bay’s mid-90’s hey day and the Bay to the table. the movement of two years ago, giving the title of his newest album Deified an even stronger meaning. OZONE caught up with the king It’s been a few years since your last album Copium. That was a classic. of the super duper hyphy hyphy to get his thoughts on everything from Yeah, it was it was one of my best albums by far. I just released Deified Bay unity to bootleggers. in June, it was a distribution deal with Allndadoe/Koch and I also put a lot into that album too. There were various albums released by prior Introduce yourself, for people who don’t know who you are. management in between but this is my real 4th album. I’m from East Oakland, California, originally one-third of the group 3XKrazy. We had a major deal on Virgin Records back in 1997. I’m an en- tertainer and I have my own way of explaining stories which I spit out in How’s everything going with Koch? the form of a rhyme. I’m not a battle rapper. We got goons from the bay Man, all I can say is, make sure you have your marketing team on hand. like Mistah FAB who hold that down for the rest of The Bay. I have many, My publicist Hassana Chanelle walked with me on this and we did as many stories to tell if you’re a slow listener. If you can’t understand what much as we could. My album got pushed back for a year and it was frus- I’m saying you need to keep up. trating. I couldn’t just bust another move, I had to wait. If you’re from New York it’s good, but if you’re from The Bay, do all the footwork you You are one of the few Bay Area artists to have a major deal. How did can before hopping into a deal. that come about? Man I know, it’s been a long time coming. In 1997 I started with the How do you feel about the growth of your career? group 3XKrazy and we signed a bad deal with Virgin records I was 17 I feel good about it because I have a fan base. I’ve been building some- years old and still going to school. We were featured on all of the Bay thing. I’m not out here just having fun. I’m really working. Area’s major compilations and well as E-40’s Hall of Game. We fucked with the major Bay Area hitters and we stayed at it. When people out of the area think “hyphy,” they really aren’t all informed correctly. Explain hyphy and the role you play in it. What have you been doing since then? The word “hyphy” means showing off, having fun, giggin’. Instead of our 3XKrazy decided to go separate ways because we did bad business with youth being focusing on killing and shooting we have fun. We dance and Nootrybe/Virgin. We were not happy with the things that were going on create our own atmosphere. Hyphy is a way of life for us. around us. So I decided to go solo in 1998. I breathe music so I couldn’t just give up. I’m not a quitter so I tried it on my own and it worked out. What do you think is the problem with the Bay? There doesn’t seem to be Every year since then I have been working on reinventing myself. I have much love in the game and you’ve got so many people burning albums. had bad business partners make the wrong moves but I’m still not a I feel like the Bay doesn’t come together and help each other out. Other quitter. I got people in my ear that constantly feed me negativity and niggas are sticking together these days and aren’t worried about who’s the people that I thought was with me was really against me. They were gonna be in the spotlight longer. Look at Khaled and what he’s got go- all in it for their own personal reasons, but I’m still standing. I may ing on; it’s all about unity. I just wish we could all come together, and have fumbled a few times, but I’ma get right back up. It’s all a learning the time to do it is now. The rap game need all of us, not just me. What experience. If you have the right people in your corner and around you people don’t realize is that it’s getting hard for artists to sell if people it’s cool. When you have the wrong people it’s all bad. When you decide keep burning stuff. It’s ridiculous. I’m still in the stores buying albums. to do you, niggas be mad instead of being there for you. I’m a good guy I bought a few of ’s albums. When I catch muthafuckas burning so I would never turn my back on my niggas. I’m working on the shit on the street, I snatch all they shit up and throw the shit away. Our Allndadoe album. I’m trying to build something solid and then I want to people as a whole should really know now is the best time for you to do work with the South on something real big. I’m working on Bay Area’s something with your life. Burning CDs and DVDs ain’t no fucking career. // Best Kept Secrets ranging from R&B to Rap. It’s hard to get a good fanbase and to get people to listen. I want to bring the best talent from Words by D-Ray // Photo by Trevor Traynor

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