RAW, UNCENSORED WEST COAST RAP SHIT compton to vegas CINO ORGANIZED GRIND STRONG ARM STEADY KRUSHADELIC HAWKMAN DEM HOODSTARZ Hustle & Flow RAPQWEST We Get Around YOUNG L The Pack’s Producer Gets His $$$ Right WELLS MEECH DJ RA & MOH2KRE OZONE WEST // // OZONE WEST OZONE WEST // // OZONE WEST PublisheR Julia Beverly EDITOr’s NOTE EditoR-IN-Chief N. Ali Early ART DIRectoR PeaCE BE Tene Gooden Music EditoR Randy Roper UntO YOU ADVERTISING SALES Che Johnson can distinctly remember when I first learned what abortion and a number of other issues. However, if the Isiah Campbell the month of February meant. I was in the fourth only reason I vote for him is because he is a black man, it I grade and my history class was studying the chapter means that I am supporting the causes that my ances- ContRibutoRS dedicated to African Americans. I learned about Nat Turner tors fought so hard for. And that’s enough for me. He’s Big Fase 00 (perhaps a year or two after my grandfather proudly told withstood attacks on his character and legitimacy by D-Ray me I was a direct descendant of the former rebel/slave), the likes of multi-million dollar businessmen like Magic DJ BackSide Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Carter G. Johnson (a Clinton supporter who called him a “rookie”) DJ E-Z Cutt Woodson (the man responsible for creating Black History and Bob Johnson (who implied Obama was incapable of Eric Johnson Week/Month), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and running the country because he experimented with drugs Jessica Essien plenty of others. At the end of the day it pissed me off to as a youth - comments he later attempted to clean up, Joey Colombo know that our history wasn’t significant enough to just implying he meant “community organizing”). Keita Jones blend with the rest of the book. But then again, there was Luvva J a sense of pride that I carried with me, knowing what and It all just makes a nigga completely comfortable with Regi Mentle who I’d come from, what my ancestors were up against, the idea of rolling the dice. If you believe in something Shemp what they survived and overcame, just so I could sit in you should embrace it wholeheartedly and if you don’t, it Todd Davis that there seat. seems like it would make life a helluva lot easier to just Ty Watkins do away with it. I don’t really care that dude did drugs as Wendy Day Yes, beyond the pagan holiday that falls in the middle of a youth. Who didn’t? And I really don’t care that there is an the month (also the date Frederick Douglass claimed as email going around that declares him a Muslim who can’t STReet Reps his birthday), and the one specific to me eight days later wait to get into office so he can blow America up from Anthony Deavers, Bigg that announced me to the world some thirty years ago, the inside out. Obama’s a brave man to be running for P-Wee, Dee, Demolition February is the month that we are urged to remember, to President of the United States in the first place. If he can Men, DJ Jam-X, DJ Juice, reflect and to continue to move forward. In that respect, stand firm, knowing there are forces out there desperately DJ KTone, DJ Quote, DJ I trust we are all doing our part to honor our forefathers attempting to derail his campaign and ultimately take him Strong & DJ Warrior, John who paved the way. Without them we wouldn’t be able down if he does in fact win, call me one of the few million Costen, Juice, Kewan to celebrate our most recent triumph, which comes in the new young and mighty who has his back. Lewis, Maroy, Rob J Of- form of the Barack Obama campaign. ficial, Rob Reyes, Sherita I’m out. Saulsberry, Sly Boogy, Now a politician is a politician and none of them have William Major made me move one way or the other in years past (I feel you Lupe). I can honestly say that choosing from the COVER CREDITS lesser of two evils has never been on my “things to do Cino photo by D-Ray list.” But Obama is different–for obvious reasons-and I N. Ali Early like where he stands on health care, education, drugs, [email protected] OZOne west 6 RAPQWEST 7-13 PHOTO GALLERIES 8 SHORT STORIES 10 CHAIN REACTION 12 PATIENTLY WAITING: KRUCHADELIC 14 PATIENTLY WAITING: HAWKMAN 16-17 DEM HOODSTARZ 18 BOARD GAME: MEECH WELLS 19-21 CINO 22-23 SRONG ARM STEADY 24 DJ PROFILE 25 SLAP 26 END ZONE OZONE WEST // R city? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Don’T see you Hit us up and let us know [email protected] which clubs, DJs and artists RAPQw EST are worthy of representing: PORTLAND, OR (503) Just in time to push his highly anticipated CD in early 008, the legendary DJ Chill is throwing an after party/new year’s SEA-TAC, WA (The 206/253/360 & The 604 Too!) eve party at The Ohm following the Wu-Tang Clan show at The The Pacific Northwest Hip Hop community has a real conscience. The annual Hip Hop For Roseland Theatre. Cool Nutz is really and truly a hustler – look The Homeless Benefit was sponsored by Crowd Control Enterprises. It went down at The for this man and respect the game of a true legend from The Mint in Olympia, WA and featured a who’s who of the Hip Hop community. The program 0, he’s got a solo gem, King Cool Nutz, in stores featuring was founded in Vancouver, BC. Check for the Northwest Urban Debate Foundation. It fuses his homeboy from The Bay, E-0, Ras Kass, Bosko & more. All Hip Hop & Debate and is growing rapidly – shots to Jen & Stella (Free Ya Mind)! Respect love, respect and peace to Pimp C (R.I.P.) & Spice . I grew up to Sabzi of Blue Scholars (Seattle, WA) who recently won the Red Bull-Big Tune national with these brothers. producer battle! DJ Kun Luv’s ‘Download’ radio show was recently cancelled, cutting indy - Luvva J (Myspace.com/luvvaj) airplay – that’s whack! - Luvva (Myspace.com/luvvaj) DENVER, CO (303, 720) The town is showing love to R&B group LG and DJ Ktone for reppin on B.E.T.’s 0th and Park in December. The group’s single, “Hey Miss Lady,” has been gaining a buzz since then. Innerstate Ike dropped Bullets and Blessings also in December to make him the only artist in the state to drop projects in year. Both Eve and Fabolous were supposed to headline shows the same weekend and it didn’t happen. Fusion Mag came out hard, Petey & Mass Prod dropped, Mr. Midas and DJ Shadoe dropped, and Blue Ice nightclub is revived on Saturdays. It’s lookin green on the turf. – DJ K-Tone (myspace.com/djktonedotcom) OaKLAND, CA (510) Zazoo’s with KMEL’s Sana G on Saturday nights, located in the quaint Jack London Square district, continues to bring out the best of the best with no problems after the club closes. Check for VJTV Comcast channel 78 for the best of the old and all the new Rap and R&B music videos. While we’re on the subject of hot videos, Kuzzo Fly is reppin’ the Town real hard on MTV Jams with “Don’t Spill It” featuring Mistah FAB, Bleu DaVinci and J-Diggs. Speakin’ of FAB, look for that new single “Life of the Party” with the Doggfather himself, the big homie Snoop. Eddi Projex finally released his solo debutNow or Never. The City’s famed Paramount Theater will play host to Cedric the Entertainer and Jill Scott for future dates, and Kimball’s continues to keep crowd controlled with their strict rules on Hip Hop music but allow NBA and NFL players to host parties at this lavish establishment. – Kay Newell ([email protected]) LOS ANGELES, CA (916) The scene in Los Angeles wouldn’t be a scene without parties @ Shag, Basque and Façade and with DJ Mark Da Spot leadin’ the pack with promotions for all three; all these events are celebrity-filled. With 008 here, the artists are more than a buzz out here. All looking to release albums or street albums this year are (but not limited to): Bishop Lamont, Glasses Malone, Topic, Strong Arm Steady and a host of others. A powerteam collaboration is also on the rise with DJ Nikbean and DJ Felli Fel looking to host a few projects this year, the first with Spider Loc. With DJ Felli Fel’s success with his single “Get Buck in Here” featuring Ludacris, Lil Jon, Akon and Diddy, The Heavy Hitter is looking to release a project of his own as well. – DJ Backside ([email protected]) SAN FRANCISCO, CA (415) SACRAMENTO, CA (916) “San Francisco Anthem” featuring Big Rich, SAN JOSE, CA (408) Shot out to Shawdow for making drama free San Quinn and Banger is murdering KMEL with Spending the Holidays in San Jose wasn’t a Hip Hop happen at Zokku each Thursday night. production handled by Traxxamillion, while the problem. Wild 9.9 as always has been takin’ This month, lookout for the Omina Bust CD underground jump-off is “Mobbin’ All Day” by over the city with Jose Melendez and Leslie Release party featuring Tone Malone at the Frisco’s own Sky Balla with E-0 and San Quinn.