Spring Bling - Ozone Magazine

Transcription

Spring
Bling
special
edition
+
REDD EYEZZ // MIMS // MAGIC MIKE
USDA // SMITTY // UNK // WES FIF
SUAVE SMOOTH // LLOYD // C-RIDE
CAROL CITY CARTEL // & MORE
BCR 2007
**special edition**
Spring Bling
iti’s own
ents lil ha
s
e
r
p
s
d
r
o
c
e
r
iness
z
z
e
y
e
redd
strictly bus
+
hurricane // MIMS // USDA // SMITTY
UNK // WES FIF // SUAVE SMOOTH
LLOYD // C-RIDE // CAROL CITY CARTEL
| OZONE
MIAMI PHOTO
GALLERY
01 // Jim Jonsin, DJ
Khaled, Pitbull, Stay
Fresh, Lil Jon, & ladies
@ Bongo’s for Rick
Ross’ birthday party
02 // Stack$ & his father
Cecile Barker @ The
Forge
03 // Bu, Dirtered, &
BANG @ Bongo’s for
Rick Ross’ birthday
party
04 // Fat Joe & his wife
Lorena
05 // Benji Brown @ the
Improv
06 // Guest & K Foxx
@ Jimmy Henchman’s
party
07 // Trina & Too $hort
@ Bongo’s for Rick
Ross’ birthday party
08 // Flo-Rida, Krunch
One, & Scotti Boi @
Rollexx
09 // Kelis @ The
Forge for Soul Kitchen
Sundays
10 // Ladies @ the
Improv
11 // Tigger looking
for some new Kittens
calendar models @ the
400 Club
12 // C.O. & Trick Daddy
@ Santo’s for Miami
Live
13 // The Runners &
Fat Joe
14 // D-Boy & Indianapolis Colts star @
Rollexx
15 // Brock, Cool, &
Fentz @ Take One
16 // Redd Eyezz
ignores the Cristal
boycott
17 // Hulk Hogan &
Anna Nicole Smith
(R.I.P.)
18 // Tigger & Lorenzo
“Ice Tea” Thomas @ the
400 Club
19 // DMX @ the Rollexx
Photos by J Lash
954-854-4008
OZONE | Kaye Dunaway
www.myspace.com/djkayedunaway
K
aye Dunaway DJs for 102 Jamz in Orlando. She is also a member of the CORE
DJs, Murda Mamis and Pure Pain Records.
With a love for breaking new records, KD fully
supports the independent artist movement in
Central Florida and hopes to bring new talent to
the forefront of Hip Hop.
How long have you been mixing?
All my life. My dad was a DJ and I used to watch
him do his thing. I really started getting into it
around 9 years old.
When did you get your big break in radio?
I did an internship at V103 [in Atlanta]. A
friend of mine that was already interning there
brought me in. I was in college at the time at
Morris Brown College in Atlanta. I majored in
graphic design. I got the internship and it was
my chance to learn everything. I learned production, promotions and programming. I got to
meet a lot of big names that are in radio today.
Do you think it’s harder for a woman to make it
in the DJ game?
No, not if you’re persistent and show that you’re
serious about it. At first it seemed kind of intimidating because everyone looks at it as a male
thing. It does take some time to prove yourself
but once you get established and people know
you’re not faking it, it’s not hard at all.
You have several DJ affiliations. How do they
help your career?
The first affiliation that I ever got down with
was the Tech.Nitions. From there I met up with
the Murda Mamis and the CORE DJs. Pure Pain
Records in Georgia have really helped me a lot.
They have a lot of DJ affiliations.
What are some of your favorite records to spin?
Right now, it’s the T-Pain record. I love anything
by Rich Boy and the Swizz Beatz Record – I like
spinning that record.
Are there any local artists you are feeling?
10 | OZONE
Definitely. I like Wes Fif and Haitian Fresh.
Preacher is another one that’s coming up. Stick
3000 seems to be doing his thing, too.
You’ve lived in a lot of cities. When and why did
you move to Orlando?
The situation I was in prior to that didn’t work
out so I moved to Atlanta and intended to get
my grind on and do the mixtape thing. I wasn’t
even thinking about radio at that point. I had
sent a couple of resumes out before I moved
to Atlanta so they called me up about a month
later out of the blue. They said they liked what
they heard. I didn’t even know anyone out here.
It was really luck.
You seem to have a very strong opinion about
the “Hip Hop is dead” movement. Care to
elaborate?
I don’t think Hip Hop is dead. Just ‘cause it’s not
popular in one part of the country anymore, that
doesn’t mean it’s dead. It’s just transforming
right now. That’s what Hip Hop has always been
able to do since its inception. It’s changing and
people gotta learn to change with it. A lot of
people are getting older and aren’t learning to
adapt. They’re holding on to what they thought
Hip Hop was. Hip Hop is still doing the same
thing it was doing back then. It’s freeing minds
and giving people an opportunity to do something bigger than what they ever could have
imagined doing with their lives. It educates
people. It might sound a little different, but it’s
doing the same thing.
What projects are you working on?
I’m doing some R&B mixtapes down here. I’m
doing a mixtape that’s going to feature a lot
of Orlando artists. I’m going to put them on
front ‘cause Orlando has a lot of talent and
they haven’t had the chance to showcase it yet.
I want to put them on blast so people can see
what’s going on down here.
Words by Ms. Rivercity
Photo by Terrence Tyson
.
t
at
n
OZONE | 11
magic mike
“D
J Magic Mike” Hampton is a man that
needs no introduction. With decades
of experience and platinum selling
records, the 40-year-old vet continues to be
blessed with success. Magic Mike currently mixes
at Power 95.3, Antigua and the House of Blues
in Orlando.
Who was your favorite DJ growing up?
I really didn’t have one ‘cause there were no
DJs doing anything in Orlando at the time. The
first DJ I could follow was Grandmaster Flash
in 1981.
How do DJs from the South, East, Midwest, and
West differ in styles?
Most DJs in the South do a lot of mic checking
over the music but are not very technical. DJs
from the West Coast don’t talk very much but are
very technical. Some East Coast DJs can be technical but if they aren’t, they use the mic to cover
it up. Midwest DJs are not afraid to play multiple
styles of music. They can play West Coast, South
and East Coast.
Name three rappers you believe will blow up in
2007.
BOB. Everyone else has already blown up in
their own way.
Have you ever considered quitting the DJ game?
No, I can’t quit the game because I love it too
much. I have been spinning for almost 30 years
now. It’s my life and it’s what I get paid to do.
Political bullshit almost drove me away from it,
but the love kept me here.
What has been the defining moment in your
career?
When my first 12” was released and it was successful, and also when my first LP went gold and
then platinum. That’s what let me know that my
name was out there and that people knew who
I was.
Are there any artists whose music you won’t
play?
Not really. I usually like everyone and get along
with everyone. Most artists today usually have a
deep respect for me because of my history and
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what I did for the game.
What’s the best way for an aspiring artist to get
you to play their music? And what’s the worst
way?
The best way is to make a phone call and talk
about it. I’m easy when it comes to playing
music. The worst way is to try to give it to me
when I am already spinning and tell me that it’s
the shit and then harass me 20 minutes later
when I haven’t played it. No DJ in their right
mind is gonna play a new song that no one
knows in the peak part of their set unless they
planned it out.
How has the recent RIAA crackdown on DJ Drama
affected the mixtape game?
It didn’t affect me because I haven’t done any
mixtapes yet. I know DJ Drama and he is a cool
mofo and I know he didn’t need that stress.
Do you drink while you spin and if so, what’s
your drink of choice? Do you mix better drunk
or sober?
I drink a little bit but I don’t get crazy. It’s impossible to get drunk when I spin. If you’ve ever
watched me, you’ll know what I mean. I don’t
have a lot of time to drink until the end of the
set. Most of the time I just drink beer.
Is Hip Hop dead? Why or why not?
Hip Hop in the state we grew up with is dead
and it’s sad. Nothing is being said anymore,
whether positive or negative. Back in the day if
we wanted to say something positive then we
would throw on some KRS-One or Public Enemy.
If we wanted the other end of the spectrum, we
could listen to N.W.A. Now most of the choices
are limited when it comes to personal listening.
There will be a change soon though, mark my
words.
Do you prefer to receive music on CD, vinyl, or
MP3?
I prefer vinyl ‘cause that’s what I know and
love. I can say I’ve mastered Scratch Live
though. I’m not a fan of CDs. I import them into
my laptop. //
OZONE | 13
dj slym
A
s part of the Clientell Party Starters, the
Hittmenn DJs, Wilin DJs, Supreme Team
DJs, Dawgman Entertainment, ZoePoppie Ent, 93.5 Clientell Radio, and a long list of
other affiliations, Alex “DJ Slym” Ducenord is
one of Orlando’s busiest DJs. At 22 years old, he
already has a full club agenda at Tropical Magic,
Roxy, Element and Club Legends.
What’s the worst DJ job you’ve ever had?
I had to do a holiday party for corporate bank
and they made me play 50s disco music. I’m me
so I rocked it anyways.
What is the most money someone offered you to
play their song at a club? Did you take it?
$100. Hell yeah I took it; that’s a phone bill.
How do DJs from the South, East Coast, Midwest,
and West differ in styles?
DJs in the South are crowd controllers. We like to
talk and interact with the crowd. East Coast DJs
don’t really talk; they’re more about scratching
and battling. Southern DJs can get down in the
scratching and battling, too.
2007.
Wes Fif, Supa Chino, and Haitian Fresh.
Why? Why did you decide to stay?
Yeah, because it seemed like all the hard work
I was putting in, I felt that I wasn’t progressing
with it. I later realized that I had my own following which were my Haitians and that I could
become the key DJ for my Zoes and take it to
the next level. Not to mention I hooked up with
Dawgman in Orlando and got on the radio and
everything took off from there.
play? Why?
No, not really. If it’s jamming, then as a DJ I
have to play it, especially if it’s a club banger.
I have to give my audience what they want. I
can’t and won’t get personal unless that particular artist does or says something about me
or something that I represent.
14 | OZONE
way?
Email it to me at [email protected].
Build a relationship with me so I know you by
face and name. The worst way is threatening me
at the club. I haven’t had a threat personally,
but I have heard about artists doing so.
Name the top 5 classic songs that always make
the crowd go nuts.
Juvenile “400 Degreez,” C-Murder “Fuck Them
Other Niggas,” Lil Jon “Who You Wit’,” Khia “Don’t
Trust No Nigga,” and OHB “Paralyze.”
What other ventures are you involved with
besides DJing?
I’m a future heavyweight promoter like Dawgman. I help him with his shows in Orlando. I
have my own company Zoe Poppie Entertainment. We do a lot of things in Palm Beach.
Name at least 2 records you’ve broken and
explain how you can claim credit for breaking
them.
I broke Haitian Fresh’s “Season of the Zoes”
and Supa Chino’s “Hayie” in Orlando. I’m on the
underground in Orlando and we invited them
down to hear it for themselves. If you call them,
they’ll tell ya.
Is radio as crooked and corrupt as people make
it out to be?
I’ve been on underground radio since I was 14
years old. I tried working at a corporate radio
station and it wasn’t nothing like what I was
used to. All I can say is we have fun on our station. We are not controlled by a group of super
rich folks that control everything we play.
What’s the worst song someone asked you to
play at the height of a crunk party?
“Cha Cha Slide.” Wow!
No, Hip Hop isn’t dead. It’s just evolving. There
are hundreds of thousands of hungry cats like
me who aren’t going to let it die before we can
get a chance to make a lasting mark in it. //
Words: Ms. Rivercity
Photo: Alain Fleury
raylo
www.myspace.com/demdamndogs
R
aylo is a well known figure in the Palm
Beach community, for several reasons.
Not only is he one of the top promoters
in the area, but he is also creator of a notorious
documentary that has launched a media frenzy.
Raylo, along with his crew Dem Damn Dogs, has
been a target of harassment since they released
shocking footage of street life in Palm Beach.
While most people think of South Florida as
a sunny paradise, residents are well aware of
the crime and violence that city officials try to
conceal. Although efforts to drown the harsh
reality have been made, without weights to hold
it down, the long kept secret has risen to the
surface.
Introduce yourself and explain what you do.
I’m part of a group called Dem Damn Dogs. We’re
DJs and promoters. We do it all, anything to do
with artists or having a party. We also do the
underground radio here. We’re the first and only
ones to do it in Palm Beach County. We’ve been
doing it since 1994.
What’s the name of your DVD series?
Gangstas and Thugs.
Why is there such a big controversy surrounding
your Gangstas and Thugs DVD?
‘Cause it bruised the city’s Public Relations. It
exposed the violence that goes on here and the
gang problems in Palm Beach County. They’re
really upset because they portray Palm Beach
County as a rich place where everybody is living
good – but they’re not. They portray it one way
but reality was shown [on the DVD]. The tape
doesn’t lie. Everybody’s seen what’s really happening in Palm Beach.
Speaking of the violence in Palm Beach, I hear
it’s really affecting the nightlife there. What’s
going on?
We’re not at any clubs right now. It’s affecting
it tremendously. It’s completely out of control
down here. We say prayers before the club lets
out. There’s no telling what’s going to happen
in the parking lot. People get murked. We’re
16 | OZONE
clubless right now.
Is the violence slowing down your business at
all?
It sucks. The only thing that’s helping my business is that the news keeps running [footage
from] our DVD so we’re selling more and more
DVDs. We’ve been on the news for four months
straight. It’s been in the Palm Beach Post, PBS,
everything. People on the DVD have been locked
up for murder.
How has the city tried to retaliate against you
for putting out the DVD? Are they trying to shut
it down?
The police have kicked our door in because they
got an anonymous tip that we taped a murder.
It wasn’t true. They’ve tried to get us, hoping
me and my partners are dirty. I’ve gotten pulled
over in my driveway. They’ve searched our cars
and harassed us. This has been going on since
September 3rd when we released the DVD.
You said that there are basically no clubs open
in Palm Beach right now. Have the DJs in your
crew had to go to other cities to get work?
Basically, yeah. Luckily we do a lot of stuff in
Delray Beach – which is in West Palm Beach
County, and in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. We still
get booked in a lot of places but as far as West
Palm Beach, we’re scarred right now – half due
to the violence, half due to the city.
How can people purchase the DVD or get more
info about it?
It’s called Gangstas and Thugs – Hoodlife 2. It’s
in every Best Buy in the world. We have another
one too called the Dem Damn Dogs DVD. They
can go to www.myspace.com/demdamndogs to
see clips, or they can call 561-574-5980 and
we’ll mail it to them. That’s my number. You can
see clips, info on our new releases – we have
one coming out on March 31st, the flyers, the
newspaper article, everything’s on the myspace
page. //
OZONE | 17
smitty
WORDS & PHOTO BY JULIA BEVERLY
18 | OZONE
Y
our album was supposed to drop a
while back through J Records, but it
didn’t come out yet. Has that situation
slowed down your momentum?
It definitely slowed down my momentum, but
it’s also made me a better artist and prepared
me for the game. I’ve learned a lot about
budgets and marketing and the political aspects
of the game; getting radio play. It’s not just
about having a hit record anymore, which is
crazy. When I first started, it was all a talent
thing. The hottest records got the most spins.
It’s not like that anymore, and I learned that by
going through my trials and tribulations with
J Records. So yeah, it’s slowed down my momentum, but they still support me and I’m still
signed with them. The average artist would’ve
been dropped by now – we spent [over] a
million dollars [on my project] and for them to
still believe in me is a blessing. And I have been
working – I haven’t been sitting on my ass, for
all the people who are like, “What happened to
Smitty?” I’ve been grinding. I’m still dropping
freestyles every week and still staying relevant.
Do you think “Diamonds on My Neck” was the
right single for you? As an artist, you don’t realy
have that flashy, diamonds-on-my-neck type
of image.
That song made me get into that realm. At the
end of the day it’s almost like Jay-Z’s “Black
Album” which was a classic, but the single was
“Change Clothes,” you know? [The single] didn’t
signify the potential of the album or the type
of artist he is. But you’re dealing with a system
that understands only one thing: record spins,
record spins, record spins. What that allows
him to do is open up a lot of people’s eyes.
We can try and fake it as long as we want but
the average person is not going to listen to an
artist’s album unless he has a hit record out.
You can put out a million hot freestyles and a
million hot records but until you’re getting radio
play, nobody’s gonna buy your record. A prime
example is my man Rich Boy. I’ve been down
hearing him and Polow since day one and I
knew the potential he had, but it took that one
record for everybody to notice him. He’s always
been there; nothing’s changed. When “Diamonds
on My Neck” took off, it wasn’t necessarily the
record that best fit me, but I had to catch up to
it and reap the benefits. When I did that record,
we were actually in the process of rolling with
the Akon record [as a single]. Before I knew
it, “Diamonds on My Neck” was already on the
radio and in the clubs. When a record takes its
own legs and builds its own identity without the
artist [promoting it], it would be dumb for me to
try to stop it.
Were you disappointed that people only got to
hear that one single and the album was never
released?
Most definitely. It put a chip on my shoulder,
honestly. Everything that happened to me in
this whole stretch has given me an attitude and
a swag about my ability. When you first step into
the game you don’t know if people are going
to like you or not. We sit and write our rhymes
and think it’s the hottest in the world, but when
the world gets ahold of it you don’t know what
they’re going to say. It kind of gave me an edge,
like, I didn’t get a chance to show everything I
had. So now I’m going to go harder. Go back to
the lab and come with something even fresher
and newer.
Are you scratching everything you had for the
album and starting over from scratch?
Nah, a lot of that stuff is still there, which is
powerful. A lot of that music is timeless. I have
records that are two or three years old that are
still relevant today. That’s what gives me a lot
of confidence in the album. Don’t get me wrong,
though, I have recorded so many new songs
that I’ll have to replace some to keep the album
up to date. But there’s still a good six or seven
songs that makes up the core of the album
that’s basically the foundation. I’ve never been
a radio-ingle type of guy.
There was an interview on the internet where
another artist criticized you for having a song
like “Diamonds on My Neck” and said yours were
fake.
Pimp C said that, and he actually apologized
[later] in an interview.
So were they real?
Oh, yeah. Everything is real. My jeweler is David,
in the diamonds district in New York City.
What’s with the new Jim Jones look you’ve got
going on?
I’m going for the rock-star look. I’m just on
some other shit. When I’m in the studio, I feel
like people don’t relate to where I’m coming
from musically because I’ve evolved so much
during the trials and tribulations that I’ve gone
through. When I first got signed I wanted a big
chain and this and that, but those things don’t
even turn me on no more.
Along with the new style, you look like you’ve
been working out lately.
Yeah, I play a little basketball. I actually got
into a little scuffle in the club and I had to
rehabilitate. So while I was rehabilitating, why
not lose some weight? >>
OZONE | 19
How has linking up with Bryan Leach’s new
label Polo Grounds affected your situation with
J Records?
Basically [Bryan] is just fresh blood over at J
Records. He has definitely brought a new intensity which has nothing to do with J Records.
There’s just a stigma when they put records out.
If you send out a record from Def Jam that’s just
alright, DJs are more eager to give it a chance
just because it’s Def Jam. What [Bryan] has done
is actually give a whole new face to J Records; a
new identity. It gives me a chance to bring what
I have to the table.
Do you have a release date right now?
We want to do August, but we’ve been going
through so much. If the new record [“Died In
Your Arms”] takes off the way it’s appearing to
take off, we could push the album back to June
or July.
Was it difficult to get clearance for that sample?
We got clearance, but they took a lot of the
publishing, like 80%. Felli Fel’s production team
in Los Angeles produced the song. We have a
version with T-Pain on the hook, a version with
20 | OZONE
Robin Thicke on the hook, and a version with
the original sample and we’re going to see
which one comes out the hottest.
So you’re going to pull a Puffy move – take a hit
from the 80s and update it?
[laughs] Why not? Actually, Felli gave me the
record through Breyon Prescott. When I first
heard it I didn’t get it, but then the Puffy in me
came out and I started to write a record. It’s not
about being the best lyricist, it’s about making a hit record, and that’s what people don’t
understand when they say, “[Smitty] doesn’t
sound like he’s from Little Haiti.” I think that’s
the problem with the game today. These kids
and everybody are buying into the illusion and
the [fake] credibility of these people who really
have no validity in the streets. You’re buying
into what they’re selling. You’re buying into
their chains, their gold and their grills. These
[rappers] are really doctors and lawyers, feel
me? They could’ve went to any college they
wanted to, but you’re buying into the swag.
You’re thinking that he’s hot because of his
swag, which really has nothing to do with the
music. //
OZONE | 21
unk
A
Words: Ms Rivercity // Photo: Earl “The Maverick” Randolph
fter creating one of the hottest
dance tracks of 2006, Mr. “Walk It
Out” is back with another club hit
appropriately titled “2 Step.” We sat down with
Unk to discuss the progress of his new song
and video, along with his album and platinum
ringtone sales.
How’s the video for “2 Step” doing?
The “2 Step” video came out great. They just
showed it on TRL on MTV. It’s actually the jam of
22 | OZONE
the week this week. It’s a great look.
Do you think it’s catching on as quickly as “Walk
It Out”?
Yeah, actually I think “2 Step” is gonna be bigger than “Walk It Out.”
How does it feel to go to a club and see everybody go crazy for a dance you created?
Words can’t describe it. I’m glad people are
getting that energy and that urge to have fun
instead of being in the club getting their head
chopped off at the end of the night. It’s good to
get that response off any record.
Has Beatin’ Down Yo Block lived up to your
expectations?
My album is increasing weekly in sales. It’s
doing good.
Has promoting your album been harder than you
expected it to be?
Promotions is always hard. You always got to
get out and do it right – radio stations, interviews, messing with DJs. Promotions is a big
step as far as album sales.
How many shows do you do in a week?
I’d say close to fifteen or twenty shows. I have
like two or three shows a night.
Since you’re touring and promoting the album,
have you had to put DJing on hold?
Man, I’ve been performing so much it’s so hard
right now. I wish I could find a way to get back
on the one’s and two’s. I’m doing shows every
day, so I’m just trying to take it one day at a
time. It ain’t no thing though.
Which do you like better, DJing or performing?
I like performing better ‘cause it’s more interactive with the crowd. When you’re DJing, you
might not even get a chance to see the crowd.
They got you hidden.
Does the performing and traveling ever get
exhausting?
Yeah, it does but it ain’t nothing like making
money everyday. You just got to stay healthy
and stay on it. It all works out for the best at
the end.
Is there anything else besides money that keeps
you motivated?
Music, fans, Myspace, shows, a lot of stuff keeps
me motivated. People come up and tell me they
love my songs. That’s what gives me the urge
to go back in the studio and make more good
music.
You mentioned Myspace. How does it help your
career?
It gives the world a chance to hear my music
or read my bio and how I came up, who I am.
Everybody wants to see you face to face but
Myspace helps a whole lot because you can
hit a lot of spots where you can’t really reach
– like overseas. People all over the world are on
Myspace.
Will you be performing during Spring Bling?
Yeah, I’m going to be at Spring Bling. Friday, it’s
going down. We’re doing “2 Step” and the “Walk
It Out” remix.
Do you have anything big planned for that
performance?
Hopefully we’ll get the Neptunes and Andre 3000
and all of us together for the remix. That’ll be
a big thing if it goes down. Be on the lookout;
Spring Bling we’re taking over.
Do you consider your style of music to be Hip
Hop?
I consider my music to be Hip Hop, dance, crunk,
anything that keeps you motivated.
How do you feel about people saying that party
records aren’t real Hip Hop?
If they don’t like it, I know their kids like it. If
you can’t beat ‘em, you might as well join ‘em.
It’s a whole different market.
How do you plan on keeping your music popular
in the future?
Just staying on my grind, doing my homework.
Now that I’m out doing a lot of shows, I get to
experience a lot of stuff and see a lot of different things that are going on in different cities.
It’s other ways people party, not just how they
do in Atlanta. I’m gon’ keep putting out music to
have fun. I’m just going to keep doing my thing.
What else is the Oomp Camp working on?
We got a lot. We got the TV show on UPN. It’s
got over 3 million viewers. It shows videos and
hot interviews. We got Big Korey’s album coming
out called Lil League. That’s one of the youngest
dudes in the South. He brought me out on the
BET Hip Hop Awards. His single should be out
this summer. We got Baby D’s album ATL’s Best
Kept Secret is coming out in a month or two. We
got another group album coming.
Anything else you’d like to mention before we
go?
I just want everyone to logon to www.bet.
com/106andpark and vote for my video to make
it number one. Shouts out to all my fans. Hit me
up at www.myspace.com/djunkoompcamp or
www.unkmusic.com to download the ringtone.
The ringtone is platinum at 1.3 million and still
climbing; iTunes is gold. I’m just blessed. //
OZONE | 23
Stick
3000
24 | OZONE
O
riginally from Palm Beach County,
now residing in Orlando, Stick 3000
has been involved in the music
business for a lengthy amount of time. He’s
booked artists, written for artists, promoted
artists and now it’s his turn to be an artist.
With radio play, packed shows, and a new song
featuring Plies, Stick is using his experience and
connections to get things done.
Explain your rap name and how you got it?
I got the name back in ’95 and I was just called
Stick. There was a DJ out of Delray Beach,
Florida named DJ Red. He was in a group called
The Pound Puppy DJs. Now they’re called Dem
Damn Dogs. All of us used to be in a group. I
was the only one that didn’t have a name so
they were just like, “We’re gonna call you Stick.”
At the time I was like, “I don’t want that friggin’
name. I ain’t that damn skinny.” But they said
it fits me so it just stuck. You know, the ladies
take it to a whole different level when they call
me Stick.
How did you get into music?
I’ve been in it all my life. I just loved music,
dancing, and all that growing up. As I got older,
I used to book artists with my man Pupp and
Dawgman. I used to always write songs and
give ‘em to other artists. So, at the end of ’05, I
decided it was time for me to do this. I was tired
of booking artists and I knew I could outdo all
them.
You have a song with Plies called “Goon.” Tell
me about that.
I came up with the song. I was supposed to
hook up with Plies about a year ago. At the
time, I didn’t really have the right song. I had to
figure out the right song. Plies is always talking
about goons, so I got up with him and said, “I
got the perfect song for you. We need to go on
ahead and do it.” He hit me up one day and was
like, “Where you at? I’m ready to do the song.”
He was in the O; he came over here and put it
down. We on a mission now.
Have you done any other collaborations?
I did a couple of songs with KC – he’s with
The Runners. He was on the Lloyd Banks song
“Karma” and he just re-wrote the hook for
“Go Getta” with Jeezy and R. Kelly. 102 Jamz is
always playing the song I have with him called
“I See You.” It’s a love song. It’s real tight. But
the song that put me on the map was “I Make
It Rain Money.” I did that in ’05. I was the first
person to make that song, I gotta make that
known. Every time I perform, I make it rain
money; that’s what I do.
Which one of your songs is your personal favorite and why?
To be real with you, I like “I See You” – the song
I did with KC. The reason I say that is ‘cause
when I wrote it, it was personal. It’s how you’re
supposed to treat a woman and deal with a
woman. If you got somebody you love, you’re
supposed to do ‘em right. I love “Goon,” too.
That’s my street song. That’s for everybody
that’s trying to get it and how we live every day.
It’s a toss up between those two songs.
Where do you hope rapping will take you?
I hope I make it to where everybody I mess
with ain’t gotta worry about nothing. I do that
now – I make sure my family and everybody’s
straight but at the same time, I can only do so
much. I’m trying to get on that level. As long as
the people keep telling me they love what I’m
doing, I’m gonna keep giving it to ‘em.
What’s the biggest show that you’ve done so
far?
It was last year at the Hard Rock Live with Lil
Wayne. It was like 3,000 people in there. That
shit there was crazy. That was when “Make It
Rain Money” was real hot. I did a couple of big
shows but I remember that one being crazy with
so many people screaming and hollering. I did
bigger shows than that, but it was way back in
’97.
The DJs in your area seem to really support you.
What’s the best way to network with a DJ, in
your opinion?
Build a relationship with ‘em from the start. Buy
‘em a drink; have a conversation with ‘em. Don’t
just give a DJ a CD and tell ‘em to play it. You
shouldn’t have to pay a DJ. If you get in tight
with a DJ and your music sounds good, they’re
gonna back it. Like my boys DJ D-Strong, DJ
Nasty, J-Deezy, them boys got my back. I love
them.
Do you have any other side projects you’re into
besides rapping?
I got an audio shop called Rated Image. We
hook up cars. I also got my own promotions
company. We got duplications centers and all
that. My company is called My Money Entertainment and I’m also with Clientell Music Group
with my boy Dawgman.
What’s the best way to contact you about your
services?
www.myspace.com/stick3000 or www.Stick3000.
com or 407-257-3290. //
OZONE | 25
W
hen most Louisiana
residents hear the word
“hurricane,” their minds
inevitably drift to the painful memories of
Katrina. But this Shreveport native is determined to change that. His maligned moniker,
Hurricane, was given to him as a result his
destructive battle-rapping skills; skills that
not only evacuated his opponents’ pride, but
also left the on-looking crowd in a disarrayed
frenzy.
“Not to brag, but after each one of my battles I
used to embarrass [other rappers] so bad that
when it was over, people were just be silent,”
exclaims the semi-humble Hurricane. “Everybody would be looking crazy, like, ‘What just
happened? He destroyed ‘em.’ That’s why they
named me Hurricane, because after a storm
it’s silent.” Though he silenced opponents,
Hurricane’s category 5 buzz had the opposite
effect on industry A&Rs and led him to a major
label record deal through Polo Grounds Music/J
Records, the brainchild of executive Bryan Leach
(credited with discovering Lil Jon & the Ying
Yang Twins, among others). Now, the Shreveport
rap savior is set to emerge as an undeniable
force determined to take the game by storm.
You’ve been warned.
How long have you been rapping?
I’ve been rapping like 8 years, but I’ve been
serious about it for like 6 years.
How did you get started?
On my side of town I was one of the first people
to battle rap, so at the skating rink we used to
have battle contests. I used to go up there every
weekend. I started getting a reputation around
here, and my manager 3 Feet was DJing up there
at the time. He took a liking to my music and
started inviting me to all kinds of talent shows,
and he was on the radio, too. He was doing a
radio show with Hollyhood Bay Bay. We hooked
up, and they put they resources with my talent
and we grinded it out.
How did you come with the “A Bay Bay” song?
Hollyhood Bay Bay, that’s my ace boon koon. He
got his own radio show in Shreveport and we
was joking with him like, “A Bay Bay,” and the
song became snappy, so I took it from there.
So now, even when you ain’t talkin’ to him you
can be like, “A Bay Bay.” I switched it from just
somebody’s name to a slang anybody can use.
If somebodys asks you, “You going to the club
tonight?” you can say, “A Bay Bay.” It just means
fa sho.
26 | OZONE
Okay, the streets are definitely feeling that
track. So how is the music scene in Shreveport?
We got a whole bunch of talent, but people
don’t know about it yet. We got a lot of people
with talent that ain’t got exposed, so with me
gettin’ on, I’m trying to bring my whole city on
the map. I’ma kick the door down for the rest.
After Katrina hit, did you ever think about
changing your name because of the travesty
that the Hurricane caused in Louisiana?
Nah, ain’t nobody really look at it like that. A lot
people that know I’m from Louisiana respect the
struggle, so the name isn’t out of disrespect or
anything like that.
Tell me about your relationship with Polo
Grounds and J Records, how did that come
about?
My record was spinning in Atlanta before I even
had a deal with anybody. I met [DJ Smurf a.k.a.
Mr.] Collipark first. Now, I got a deal with Young
Mogul and Polo Grounds Music/J Records and my
album is executive produced by Mr. Collipark. Mr.
Collipark heard my music in Atlanta and called
my dude Bay Bay, and we was down here on a
flight the next day. He came to the club, saw me
perform, we kicked it, talked, got to know each
other a little bit, and we made it happen. After
that I started dealing with Polo Grounds Music
who is distributed through J Records. So we
linked it all together.
Do you have an album release date yet?
We ain’t got no release date right now. We gon’
do a DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz mixtape; we gon’
Hurricane
Season
Words: Eric Perrin // PHOTO: JULIA BEVERLY
drop that in less than a month, so look out for
that. That’s gonna lead you right into the album.
How are you different from other rappers?
I’m trying to relate to everybody. I want everybody to be able to relate to where I’m coming
from; the people in the hood to the people
livin’ the good life. I ain’t just rapping about
one thing, I’m real versatile. I got club songs,
songs that you can ride and bump, a little bit of
everything. It’s between a gangsta and a mack;
it ain’t too gangsta to the point where certain
people ain’t gon’ play it, but you still gon’ feel
where I’m coming from. White folks, gangstas,
and thugs gon’ be able to ride to this.
Have you been doing a lot of shows lately?
Man, I’ve been doing three, four shows a week.
I was doing that before I even had a deal. I
been doing shows in Louisiana, Texas, and all
surrounding areas. I’ve been doing three to four
shows a week for the last three months.
What kind of advice do you have for other
people from small towns that are trying to make
it in the industry and attract the attention of a
major label?
It can happen. All you gotta do is put your city
on the map. Rep your city to the fullest, rep
where you from. You gotta be proud of where
your from. If you represent to the fullest and
get your city behind you, can’t nobody tell you
can’t do it. They told me I couldn’t do it and
now I’m here. //
OZONE | 27
sean kingston
Words // Ms. Rivercity
28 | OZONE
A
t 17 years old, Sean Kingston has
done what millions of other artists
have spent their whole lives trying
to do – land a major label deal. As an artist
under Beluga Heights/Epic Records, Sean has
already shared the stage with Florida heavyweights like Pitbull, Trina, Trick Daddy and Pretty
Ricky. He’s even secured features from Akon,
Baby Cham, Rick Ross and more. Now he’s ready
to release his first solo project.
Describe your style of music.
I’d say it’s a little bit of reggae and a little bit of
rap – you know, international.
Did you always want to be a musician or is there
something else you wanted to do?
I’ve been making music since the age of 8. It’s
something that has always been a part of me.
I wrote my first song when I was 9 and I took
it from there. Growing up, I wasn’t like the
regular teenager. I wasn’t really interested in
going to the movies or playing video games. I
was always a music head. I would come home
from school, do my homework, and write a new
song. That’s what I wanted to do since infinity.
My grandfather was a big producer in Jamaica.
He did a lot of memorable stuff. He passed away
the other day but he’s very big in the reggae
culture.
Who are some artists that you look up to?
Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, Biggie, Akon. I really like
Lauryn Hill. I’ve loved her since the Fugee days.
She’s tight.
Tell me about the single “Colors.” What’s the
story behind that?
It’s a pretty dope record. It’s very different. We
sampled it from Ice T. J.R., my producer, remixed
the beat. We got The Game on it and Rick Ross.
It’s a crazy record that the streets will like.
We’ve got it on the radio. Khaled’s been blasting
it off in Miami and we’re getting great feedback.
What other songs will be on your album?
We got a lot of stuff. I got some stuff with Damian Marley. I got stuff with Juelz Santana. I got
a whole lot of songs with a lot of variety. When
I make music I do different stuff like catchy
hooks, club songs, girl songs, party songs,
whatever.
Right now I have a deal with Beluga Heights
which is through super producer J.R. Rotem and
Epic Records. We shopped around with a lot of
labels and had a little bidding war going on but
we did the deal with them. I felt like Epic was a
good situation. I felt comfortable; I felt at home
so we made the deal happen.
How were you able to shop around for a deal?
How did you make those types of connections?
Myspace. I met J.R.’s brother through Myspace,
which is crazy. I sent him three songs and didn’t
really think he was gonna hit me back but he
listened to the three songs, called me back and
flew me out. We started working and developing some tracks. When we found the right
three songs he shopped me around we made it
happen.
What are some things that the music business
has taught you so far?
It’s taught me to stay humble. When I first got
signed, I thought everything was just going
to come to me. But you gotta be humble, stay
focused and make the right moves. J.R.’s taught
me a lot about the ropes so it’s a pretty good
situation.
Since you have an album coming out, is the
label scheduling a tour for you?
They’re talking about a tour but I’m not sure if
they’re ready to make it happen. They’re talking
about putting me on the Chris Brown tour that’s
coming up and the Bow Wow tour. That’s about
it. It’s a good look. I just can’t wait for the album come out. I’m very excited right now ‘cause
the album’s crazy!
Do you want to venture into other areas of the
entertainment business in the future?
Yeah, I’d like to be a CEO. I started a label
called Time is Money Entertainment. I just got it
incorporated. I got an in-house producer that I
just signed to the label. We’re working with J.R.
I’m just trying to make it big and follow in the
footsteps of Jay-Z. I’m trying to be an entrepreneur, sign some good artists, get a distribution
deal and make it happen. It’s going good so
far. I also went to school for acting when I was
younger. I got a little bit of acting skills so I’d
like to make it happen with acting, too.
How are you able to balance school and music?
It’s doing pretty good. I’m actually at home
school right now. I have a teacher that comes
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when we go to the
studio. It balances out really good.
Do you want to give out any contact info?
You can check out my Myspace page www.
myspace.com/seankingston for more information on me. I also want to make sure I give a
shoutout to Epic Records, my manager J. Shapiro
and J.R. //
What’s the situation with your record deal?
www.myspace.com/seankingston
OZONE | 29
wes fif
30 | OZONE
W
es Fif is an artist that has been
on the verge for a couple of years
now. A street cat with a whole lot
of heart and a whole lot to say, Wes consistently
drops new bombs like clockwork. His most recent
single “Haterz” featuring the young up-andcomer B.O.B. is full of the same fire that has
made Wes Fif an underground favorite.
What’s new with you?
We pushing this “Haterz” single with B.O.B and
this Real Nigga Radio. I’m trying to get picked up
so somebody can cut the check.
Is the RNR mixtape all original material or does
it have known beats as well?
It’s all original production except one song
that’s on a Lil Wayne beat. The other 15 tracks
are original. I didn’t want to do too much stuff
on other people’s songs ‘cause I wanted it to
be as close to an album as possible. I used like
fourteen different producers.
Why do you use so many producers instead of
finding a couple people that you vibe with?
I like to keep it diverse. I don’t want every song
to sound like the next one. Messing with a different producer might bring a different sound out
of me. I adapt to a producer rather than do the
same shit over and over again.
Where can people cop the mixtape at?
Your local bootlegger or you can catch us at
any event, in any city. You can get it from me or
Dawgman.
Do you plan to work with Bigga Rankin again on
future projects?
Oh yeah, Bigga Rankin is like a big brother to me.
Every time I drop – I don’t care if I’m two times
platinum in two years – every time I got some
new shit that don’t make the cut on the album,
I’m coming straight to Billy. He shows love so I’m
definitely gonna show love back.
How has the music scene in Florida grown, as far
as resources, since you started rapping?
That shit is way better than it was three or four
years ago when I started. It’s so many different outlets now. Before, when I started back in
2003, it wasn’t no meetings to go to. It wasn’t no
people doing what they’re doing now, like DJs. I
go to other states too and I’d say we’re the best.
Besides Atlanta, we got the best market for DJs,
magazines, and all that shit.
How do you balance between being a musician
and being a father?
It’s real hard ‘cause when I be gone, I be missing
my lil’ boy. I got like a million pictures of him
in my Sidekick so it’s straight. When I miss my
jit, people like Dawgman, Dapa, and Mighty Mike
let me know I’m out here doing it for him so he
don’t have to struggle like we struggled when we
was coming up.
How old is your son?
He’s two years old.
Have you been working with any artists from the
Orlando area lately?
Me and my homie Dee Boi just did something. I
just did something with a producer named Yung
Chill. I got a couple more in the works. I really
fuck with my dawg Dee Boi and my squad. Besides that, I like to keep my shit in a close circle.
I don’t really fuck with too many people ‘cause
it’s too many crabs.
The last time we spoke you mentioned that you
get hated on a lot, and now you have a song
with B.O.B. called “Haterz.” Is that retaliation or
venting?
It’s reiterating what I said about niggas hating
on me. If you listen to my verse, all I’m really
doing is telling them that you don’t gotta hate;
you can get out here and do what I’m doing. And
then, the second part of the verse I flip it and
I’m putting it in their face and giving them more
shit to hate about. But we cool; we got goons
and fire. If they want problems, they know how
to find me.
Did you like working with B.O.B.?
B.O.B.’s a cool ass dude. I spent a lot of time in
Decatur, where he’s from. We ran into him in Miami for the Florida Entertainment Summit. I had
been hearing about his shit and TJ Chapman put
him onto my shit. Dawgman and TJ got together
like bosses and set it up. We clicked. We’re two
talented dudes so it wasn’t nothing.
Will you be performing anywhere during Spring
Bling or BCR?
I don’t know but I’ma be out there. You gonna
see the posters, the wrapped van, the street
team with the RNR. We’re gonna be out there but
as far as the shows, I don’t know. I’ll definitely
be on the scene.
What’s next after that?
Come to Orlando Memorial Day Weekend and fuck
with CrunkFest – my nigga Dawgman’s birthday
bash. We’re gonna do it real big. I got the album
coming this year called Insane. Make sure y’all
hit me up onmyspace.com/wesfif. If you wanna
book me, hit Dapa up 404-694-5063. All I gotta
say is: Haters, kill yourselves. All you snake
niggas, we hear ya; we just choose not to say
nothing. //
www.myspace.com/wesfif
OZONE | 31
Suave
Smooth
A
n artist under Fontana/Universal, Suave
Smooth represents South Florida’s ever
growing batch of talent. Along with his
involvement in the Gangstas and Thugs DVD, his
knack for producing club bangers has made him
well known in the Palm Beach area.
32 | OZONE
What’s new with you since the last time we
spoke?
I got a feature with Tum Tum in the making right
now. I’m getting ready for Spring Bling and
that’s about it.
How would you classify your style of rap?
The reincarnation of Florida. I’m basically bringing back what Florida had before it fell off. It’s
more club with a new, gangsta edge to it.
How do you feel about the Florida movement, as
far as music goes?
I think everybody has their time to shine. I think
it’s Florida’s time to shine. You’re starting to
see more and more artists coming out of Florida
and they’re not just blowing up; they’re going
platinum. It’s the West Coast’s time to shine, too.
What role do you think you play in that movement?
I play more of the player role, not gangsta or
none of that shit. I’d say I play the role of a
2007 Luke.
Besides Luke, which other artists in the game do
you respect?
My favorite artists are Too $hort, 2 Live Crew,
Outkast, and 8Ball & MJG.
Are you still promoting the single “Make It Happen” with 8Ball & MJG?
Yeah, and because their album just dropped
recently and they’re pushing their single, we’re
going to use that to help push our single more,
too.
What else can people expect to hear on your
album?
I call it getting pussy on a CD. (laughs)
Everybody’s coming out a lil’ too gangsta right
now. Ain’t nobody talking about being players
no more. Everybody talking about shoot ‘em up,
bang bang type of shit. I just wanted to bring
back that player type shit.
Are you working on any new production?
Nah, I’ve just been producing for myself. I really
wasn’t going to get into that until after the album takes off and when I have some free time.
Who would you like to produce for if given a
chance?
I’d like to produce for Andre 3000. Anything
off the wall or odd and crazy, like Too $hort or
Justin Timberlake. Anything left field.
The last time we spoke, you mentioned that your
single “Gangstas & Thugs” inspired the name
for the DVD that Dem Damn Dogs put out. What
made you write that song?
That song was recorded during the crunk era.
That’s what gave me the motivation to do the
song ‘cause I was really trying to make something crunk.
How do you feel about all the attention the DVD
is getting? Is it a good thing or a bad thing?
Both, good and bad. It’s good for all the artists
‘cause it helps break more music. The FCC shut
down the underground station so it was hard
to break underground music. So the DVD started
using more underground music – not only local
artists, but underground artists in general. I
think they broke Lil Boosie on some of the other
DVDs that they did. But the mayor’s getting real
pissed off about the DVD. As a matter of fact, it
was on the news again last week. They made a
statement that they’re building Federal cases
[against] everybody that’s on the DVD. So that’s
the bad part about it. A lot of my friends got
Fed cases being built on ‘em.
Are things getting any better in Palm Beach as
far as the crime and violence?
Everything is getting better. Really, the DVD
seemed like a whole bunch of hype. I don’t
really think it’s as bad as the DVD was making it
seem. I think that’s what was pissing the mayor
off ‘cause people that wasn’t from Palm Beach
was thinking that type of stuff goes on a lot.
Everything is alright. It really ain’t no different
from any other place.
How did you get the deal with Fontana/Universal?
A lot of people think that it takes a lot of work
to get a deal. My deal is great but I actually got
my deal just by putting out singles. Everybody
kept asking me why I put out so many songs
but never put an album out. I dropped a new
single like every five months. Once one song
had a chance to get halfway out there, I’d
have another song coming. “Pussy Nigga You
Don’t Know Me,” “What They Do,” “Gangstas
and Thugs,” “Drop It To The Floor” – some of
the songs never really took off, some did, but
I always kept ‘em coming. They took off on
mixtapes. Three years after I released “Pussy
Nigga You Don’t Know Me,” somebody still had it
on their mixtapes and one of the A&Rs bumped
into it. That’s how it happened. Before that, I
was doing albums like everybody else but they
never took off. It’s hard to push a whole album,
especially when you’re underground. //
www.myspace.com/suavesmoothofficial
OZONE | 33
LLOYD
Words // Eric Perrin
34 | OZONE
R
&B sensation Lloyd is not your average R&B dude. He has been cosigned
by such greats as Jazze Pha, Clive
Davis and L.A. Reid, but still remains a humble
and modest man who is more concerned with
family and friends than fortune and fame.
Through all the adversity, Lloyd has opted to
stay loyal to Irv Gotti and The Inc, who have just
inked a new distribution deal with Universal.
Hoping to restore The Inc’s once prominent
status, the confident crooner knows he has a lot
to prove and is ready for the challenge.
I know there have been some problems with The
Inc, are you still with Irv Gotti?
Of course. Irv just signed a major distribution
deal with Universal worth millions of dollars.
I’m at a point in my career right now where a
lot of other labels were calling me offering me
all kinds of things. I was ringing a lot of bells
and I wanted to show Irv that I was ready for
the next step. I was ready for a video, I was
ready for a big marketing push, I was ready for
an album, so when Irv called me and told me
about his deal with Universal, he asked me if I
was riding with him. I was like, “Of course, but
these other labels are pretty much offering me
a chance to control my own destiny and offering
me a chance to open up my own company.” So I
asked him if he could do the same, and he said
yes. At the end of the day if Irv was ready to
move, I was gonna be ready to move with him.
I sat down with my lawyer and renegotiated
my deal so I now own my own company, Young
Goldie Music, and I got a lot to prove.
I heard you were with Sho’Nuff as well, how
does that work?
I’m managed by Sho’Nuff. Shout out to Jazze
and Noonie Lee. A lot of people don’t think of
Sho’Nuff as a management company, but they’ve
been doing a tremendous job with me. That’s
my family over there. A lot of people don’t know
that Noonie Lee actually started off as a manager of a lot of producers and writers. He owned
a company called Noon Time and it was one of
the most successful music companies in Atlanta
and he decided to hook up with Jazze Pha and
form Sho’Nuff Records and through Sho’Nuff
you’ve heard Ciara, Jody Breeze, Cherish and
many others.
What separates you from the other R&B dudes in
the game?
The great thing about what we do is that you
can’t manipulate it. You either got it or you
don’t. It’s either sounding good or its not, so
we’re just trying to go out here and make good
music and we hope the masses listen. It’s good
to know that I got big brothers that got my back
such as Jazze, Dallas Austin, and Irv; they’ve
really held me down.
How have Dallas Austin, Jazze Pha and Irv Gotti
influenced you?
They feel that I am the future and they’ve
encouraged that. They have surrounded me with
greatness; I feel that if I surround myself with
numb nuts then clearly I’ll end up one, but if
I’m surrounded by greatness then I’m surely
destined for it. Dallas gave me a room at the
studio to perfect my music and that’s forcing
me to work harder than ever, and with that
help, I’ve spent a lot of time at the lab and have
really perfected my craft. As a young man, it’s
so overwhelming that they have all expressed to
me that they enjoy my music. Dallas and Jazze
and Irv have all embraced me and my sound
and they are helping me to possibly become
even greater than they are one day, if I work
hard enough.
So when is your new album coming out?
It will be out March 20th, and it’s called Street
Love.
How have you progressed musically since you
first hit the scene?
I think you are a reflection of how hard you
work. So, the only thing that separates us is
hard work. My biggest problem as a kid was that
I’ve always been really talented and sometimes
I rely on my talent and I get lazy. Now I realize
that I’m a man and I gotta work hard. I’m trying
to take everything in life more seriously, I’m
trying to be on time everywhere I go, because
I’m 20 years old now, I’m a man...
REAL, RAW, & UNCENSORED SOUTHERN RAP MUSIC
KILLER MIKE
JIM JONES
POLOW
BLOCK
8BALL
Z-RO
NAS
& MORE
The rest of this interview was featured in
the February issue of OZONE Magazine. Visit
us online at www.ozonemag.com
UGK
RETURN OF THE KINGS
OZONE | 35
C-Ride
Words: Eric Perrin // Photo: Julia Beverly
36 | OZONE
e
ly
C
arol City’s C-Ride may easily be one
of rap’s best storytellers. You don’t
just listen to his music, you experience it. Though he doesn’t profess to be a lyricist or a novelty rapper, what he does claim is
a style all his own. C-Ride delivers a trademark
approach that is evident on all of his signature
tracks. True to the last part of his name, C’s music sends listeners on a lyrical ride; a fantastic
voyage laced with underlying beats and subtle
hooks that accentuate his narrative raps.
When you hear my music you don’t hear beats,”
says C-Ride. “You don’t even hear my words; you
just see a vision.” Now the rapper that superproducers Cool & Dre have personally co-signed
is waiting on the world to see his vision.
You’ve come a long way in five years. How have
you gotten this far in your career?
I try to be better than whoever else, man. The
beat don’t even matter. At the end of the day
I’m trying to make you press rewind and make
you say, “C-Ride is that nigga,” man. I got a gift
but I’m going hard.
Where are you from and how did you get
started?
I’m from Carol City. Dade County, Florida and I
was caught up in a stupid ass life, trying to get
paid and I left Dade County for a while. I had
went to the A-Town and that’s where I really
started rapping, in Atlanta. It was too many
niggas rapping in Atlanta, and I was screamin’,
“Dade County, Dade County.” So I had to move
back to Dade County. I had made a CD and Cool
& Dre got a copy of it, I don’t know how because
I only made like 200 copies of it, but somehow
they got it and liked it. One day I got a phone
call from them and it was on.
What makes you unique as a rapper?
The thing that separates me is that I try to make
music that’s not novelty music. I tell stories
and plots. I like storytelling. A lot of rappers
rap about the same shit. To a certain extent we
all rap about the same shit, but some people
just gon’ take you on a ride, like C-Ride. I have
amazing storytelling skills and when you hear
it, I’ll make you love to listen.
A lot of people get in the game and they don’t
really have a passion for the music. How do you
feel about that?
There are certain rappers that do have a passion and they last. A lot of people get that
fast money and they spend it and it’s over for
them. But if you look at the rappers that lasted
over five years in the game you like who they
are more than their music. You get to like the
person more than the music, because of their
passion.
Album sales have been at a drastic decline recently. What are your thoughts on that and how
do you plan on succeeding in album sales?
That’s the record labels and the A&Rs’ fault
because they signed these people. They’ve been
doing the same thing they’ve been doing for
years, but the quality of the product went down.
That’s what made me want to go independent
first before I signed a big deal. But the major
thing is coming so fast. The most important
thing is to always, always, always, always make
good music. Always! That’s why I’m trying to
set myself up to do this right before I even start
to sign a deal, because record sales are not
guaranteed for any artists if you’re not doing it
the right way.
That’s inspiring. You only made 200 copies and
it led to Cool & Dre calling you. How has it been
working with them?
It’s more than music, man. I’ve only been here
for a few years, but it’s more than music. The
Lord puts certain people in your life to take
you where you need to be, so Cool & Dre are my
brothers no matter what. Before any paperwork,
them my brothers and it’s goin’ down. They are
retardedly talented, retardedly talented.
So what are you currently working on?
I already started pushing music on my website,
www.stashhousemusic.com. I got a freestyle CD
I just wrapped up. People are always saying,
“Why’d he get signed? His buzz ain’t as huge as
everybody else.” So I’m putting out retarded
amounts of music to show everybody why I’m
here. I got a freestyle CD coming out. I got
Coming From the Bottom: Part 3 coming out and
that’s all original music. Everything I’m doing
you can get at my website, www.stashhousemusic.com.
The whole music scene in South Florida has
really been booming, what are your thoughts on
the musical takeover your area is experiencing?
Of course Mr. Ross himself set it off in a major
way. There were a lot of new artists that came
out last year and Rick Ross really put the scope
back on Dade County. Now I’m trying to do
everything I can to help out.
Are you working on anything outside of music?
Of course the music is first, always. I gotta be
the number one artist. If I put out the best music then I’ll be able to sell whatever else I want
to, too. When you hit 10 million copies then
you can sell anything: blank CDs, shoelaces,
anything. But I gotta be the number one artist.
That’s what I’m shooting for. //
OZONE | 37
| OZONE
PUBLISHER:
Julia Beverly
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER:
N. Ali Early
GUEST EDITOR:
Ms. Rivercity
CONTRIBUTORS:
Eric Perrin
J Lash
Randy Roper
PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR:
Malik Abdul
ART DIRECTOR:
Tene Gooden
STREET TEAMS:
Big Mouth Marketing & Promo
Crazy Hood Productions
Lex Promotions
On Point Marketing & Promo
Strictly Streets
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
To subscribe, send check or
money order for $11 to:
bcr2007
n**
**special editio
Section A
9
Miami Photo Gallery
10
DJ Epps
12
DJ KD
14
DJ Dady Phatts
16
West Palm Beach Map
17
Spring Bling EventS
18-19Carol City Cartel
20
Daytona Beach Map
21
Daytona Beach Clubs
22-23
Boy Wonder
24-25
Mims
28-31USDA
34-35
Tarvoria
36-39 REDD EYEZZ
Ozone Magazine
644 Antone St. Suite 6
Atlanta, GA 30318
Phone: 404-350-3887
Fax: 404-350-2497
Web: www.ozonemag.com
COVER CREDITS:
Redd Eyezz, Hurricane, Smitty,
& DJ Epps photos by Julia
Beverly.
DISCLAIMER:
OZONE does not take responsibility
for unsolicited materials, misinformation, typographical errors,
or misprints. The views contained
herein do not necessarily reflect
those of the publisher or its
advertisers. Ads appearing in this
magazine are not an endorsement
or validation by OZONE Magazine
for products or services offered. All
photos and illustrations are copyrighted by their respective artists.
All other content is copyright
2007 OZONE Magazine, all rights
reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any way
without the written consent of the
publisher. Printed in the USA.
Section b
9
Miami Photo Gallery
10
Kaye Dunaway
12
DJ Magic Mike
14
DJ Slym
16Rawlo
18-19
Smitty
22-23Unk
24-25
Stick 3000
28-29
Sean Kingston
30-31
Wes Fif
32-33
Suave Smooth
34-35
Lloyd
36-37C-Ride
26-27 HURRICANE
OZONE | MIAMI PHOTO
GALLERY
01 // The Baka Boyz
02 // Noreaga & Gotti
on the set of Fat Joe’s
“Make it Rain” remix
video
03 // DJ Khaled, Baby,
& Brisco on the set of
Fat Joe’s “Make it Rain”
remix video
04 // Al, Star Jones, Ray
Lewis, & G Garden @
Lucky Strike bowling
alley for Alonzo Mourning party
05 // Fat Joe & Lil
Wayne on the set of Fat
Joe’s “Make it Rain”
remix video
06 // Omar from The
Wire with Bigg D @
Santo’s for Miami Live
07 // Zo & Omar from
The Wire @ Santo’s for
Miami Live
08 // Lynn, Jacki-O, &
Michael Sterling @ Ivy’s
for Bloodline DVD party
09 // Lil Wayne on the
set of Fat Joe’s “Make it
Rain” remix video
10 // Dwayne Wade
& his wife @ Lucky
Strike bowling alley for
Alonzo Mourning party
11 // Guest & John Salley @ Mansion
12 // Shakir Stewart &
Ted Lucas @ Bongo’s
13 // Redd Eyezz &
Hotboy @ Miami Live
14 // Irv Gotti & guest
@ The Forge
15 // Krunch One & Trick
Daddy @ Rollexx
16 // Lorenzo “Ice Tea”
Thomas, Willis McGahee,
& Ronnie Brown on
South Beach
17 // Tony Neal & Trick
Daddy @ Santo’s for
Miami Live
18 // Drop & Jim Jonsin
@ for Miami Live
19 // Carol City Cartel @
Bongo’s for Rick Ross’
birthday party
20 // Kia & Chaka Zulu
@ Lucky Strike bowling
alley for Alonzo Mourning party
21 // Guest, Mike Epps,
& Pacman Jones
Photos by J Lash
954-854-4008
OZONE | DJ Epps
D
J Epps is a member of the Shadyville
DJs. He’s also an on-air personality and
Assistant Music Director for 103.5 The
Beat. Epps works with several artists in Miami
including North & Agony. When he’s not spinning
in South Florida, Epps takes his skills abroad to
Europe and Asia.
Who were your favorite DJs growing up?
Kid Capri and Kool DJ Red Alert
What’s the worst DJ job you ever had?
I’m always turning my worst situations into the
best ones. But my worst DJ job could honestly
be when the club promotes that they have a
million dollar sound system and they only have
CDs and no turntables or no monitors in the
booth. Get it together people!
No one gave me a high offer and even if they
did it’s hard for me to fuck up my show to put
on something I never heard before. I don’t care
if it’s the next big hit; your job is to get with
me before my show and handle that. And don’t
get mad when I reject it and don’t take it back
‘cause after the party, if my girl is not fucking
me on I-95 on the way home, then I’m popping
in your CD. Bobby and Whitney did give me $500
once to play a request. I took it.
2007.
North & Agony, Unique and Caliba – not the
Kaliba from Miami but Caliba of The Union.
I’m in love with DJing. I never thought about
leaving it, just trying to take it to the next level.
career?
When 50 gave me a call and asked me to work
with him. Other rappers call but I never hear
from them after, but this nigga cuts me checks
and still has me on the team. Thanks, boss.
10 | OZONE
you to play their music? What’s the worst way?
Communications, build relationships, take a
nigga out, get a nigga and my girl a drink, let’s
get in the studio and kick it, do drops. The worst
way is sending your homies with a $20 bill,
telling me you’re the next hot shit and it’s really
garbage, telling me you’re gonna do drops and I
don’t anything. And the worst is when you play
a nigga’s shit out of love and they don’t even
say thank you.
Are there any circumstances where a DJ should
get involved with artists’ beef?
Nope, unless you’ve been provoked like I was.
It’s not a DJ’s battle but a DJ should respect his
boss and don’t play his enemy’s music in front
of them. 50 got beef with certain heads but I
don’t, until you give me a reason.
besides DJing?
I have the DJ Epps All Star Roster which includes
the Tag Team Champions North & Agony, Caliba,
Traffik and the sexy twins Unique. I also have
a barber shop called New Day Hair Salon in
Kendall. We have a clothing line called Hoodlife
Apparel. I handle marketing and promotions for
G-Unit and Warner Brothers. I have Nightbreederz Entertainment that throws parties. I have
the Grown & Sexy mixshow on 103.5 The Beat
in Miami, Black Jam Radio in Germany, a Hip
Hop show on www.w305.com, and a show with
DJ Whoo Kid on Saturday from 8 AM – 10 PM on
www.shadyvilledjs.net.
it out to be?
I use it for my exposure. If a station tells me to
start playing old school R&B, I like a challenge
so I’m gonna do it. It could be corrupt when
you hearing the same song every hour. As far as
crooked, I don’t know about that. I stay away
from anything negative. //
Photo by Julia Beverly
OZONE | 11
DJ kd
F
ormerly a DJ at 99 Jamz in Miami and
X102.3 in West Palm Beach, DJ KD currently spins at various nightclubs including Chyna White, Ninety 9 and Perri House. It’s
Crack featuring Jobs and Hall of Fame Taking
Ova are two of his most recent mixtapes. KD will
be going on tour with his artist Jase in the near
future.
Who was your favorite DJ growing up?
Funkmaster Flex. Being born in New York, I
looked up to him.
Getting to a spot that didn’t have any equipment, no turntables, or a mixer. I had to wait for
these people to set it all up, and the idiot promoters was letting people in with no music on.
$50 to $100. Naw, I didn’t take it; I’d just play it.
Depending on who it was, I’d show love.
Well, there’s DJs with the same style. Down
South has hype DJs that play the music fast, as
well as DJs that rock playing up tempo, but not
speeding through every record. The only thing I
could say is, for the most part, skills in the clubs
don’t matter anymore. With the exception of a
few DJs, skills are not a factor.
I did actually. It’s lots of politics. Sometimes
you’re wrapped up in it without even realizing
it. Plus, club promoters try to rob you. For any
DJ it gets frustrating period, but it’s a learning
process – fast for some, slow for others. I can’t
say I’m quitting anytime soon.
career?
Getting a slot on 99 Jamz. Radio was always a
dream of mine, so that was big for me.
play? Why?
12 | OZONE
I like to play everything, everybody. Variety is
key. I don’t wanna think about who got beef
with who. I wanna play everything. It’s good for
everybody that way. DJs don’t break records like
they use to.
What artist shows the most love to DJs? & What
artist shows the least love to DJs?
I don’t know if I could say that one artist shows
the most love. There’s a few I know that show
love – Pitbull, Lil Jon, David Banner, Swizz Beatz,
Wyclef, just to name a few. A lot show love but
there’s some that don’t.
way?
The best way is to come correct. Make sure your
music is hot and stay in my ear. If it’s not, I’ll
let you know. There’s nothing worse than a
dude with music that’s getting at you everyday,
and when you finally get to hear it, it’s whack.
Before you step to DJs or whoever, make sure
your music is good.
I don’t think it affected it too much. I know cats
was nervous though. It all depends on where
you are and what the state law is. You just have
to do research. I gotta give a huge shout to
Darnella Dunham at R&R; she put a lot of that
in perspective. I still think it’s whack overall for
tapes to be illegal.
Name the top 5 classic songs that always makes
the crowd go nuts.
Jay Z “P.S.A.,” C-Murder “Fuck Them Other
Niggaz,” anything from Biggie, anything from
Tupac, and in Miami, Trick Daddy’s “Can’t Fuck
Wit Me.”
Do you drink while you spin and if so? Do you
mix better drunk or sober?
I drink when I’m rocking, but not to mix better,
just to loosen me up to talk shit on the mic.
Without a drink, you might not hear a peep out
of me. //
OZONE | 13
DJ Dady Phatts
K
nown as an advocate for the independent artist, Reginald “Dady Phatts”
Benoit currently spins on WMBX X102.3
in West Palm Beach. His Local Love show is an
important outlet in the South Florida market.
He has most recently worked with Killa Kim and
DirteRed and is always on the lookout for hot
new talent.
Who were your favorite DJs growing up?
Kid Capri, Funkmaster Flex and Tony Touch.
I was playing at this club and I was playing
some hot shit and then the sound system blew.
The party was done at the height of it.
As a DJ, you gotta cater to your crowd so you
gotta play what’s hot in your market. In West
Palm, if you’re DJing in the clubs, you’ve gotta
play Suave Smooth’s “What They Do.”
2007.
Mims, Suave Smooth, and Killa Kim.
Yes, I did want to quit. I just got tired of the
music that is being put out. What made me stay
was the love and I feel Hip Hop will get better.
career?
Seeing myself come from a street DJ to one of
the top DJs in my city.
What artist shows the most love to DJs? & What
artist shows the least love to DJs?
Right now Mims show DJs a lot of love and Foxy
Brown is an artist that shows no love.
way?
The best way is to come and talk to me and try
to build a relationship with me. The worst is to
offer me money like I’m a prostitute.
I think DJs may not wanna do mixtapes with the
majors because you can go to jail for promoting
14 | OZONE
one of their artists. That’s why I stick with the
indies. They know that they need to go to the
next level.
Name the top 5 classic songs that always makes
the crowd go nuts.
Biggie “Juicy,” Mystikal “Here I Go,” Jay-Z
“P.S.A.,” Slick Rick “Children’s Story,” Chaka
Demus & Pliers “Murder She Wrote.”
besides DJing?
I have a promotions company called Phatt Lipp
Promotions and I also plan parties.
Name at least 2 records you’ve broken and
explain how you can claim credit for breaking
them.
Mims “This is Why I’m Hot” and Rick Ross
“Hustlin’.” With Mims, I got the record from DJ
Blackout who works with me at the station. He
produced the record so I wanted to help him
out. I started to play the record in my mixshow.
With Rick Ross, we were always good people so
he came to my Local Love show and brought
“Hustlin’.” I had to play that record like four
times.
it out to be?
Radio is real crooked but there are some good
people in good places. The only thing I don’t
like is someone telling my PD what to play in
market in South Florida when he lives in a different state.
How do you use technology as a DJ?
The mp3 game has helped me a lot with keeping my music selection fresh and new I hit up
DigiWaxx and New Music Server all the time to
get the new shit.
Do you drink while you spin and if so, what’s
your drink of choice? Do you mix better drunk
or sober?
I do drink but I don’t get drunk. I like to get a
nice buzz. My choice of drink is Grand Marnier
and Coke. I mix the same drunk or sober.
Hell no, it’s not dead. It has changed and now
it is for everybody. There are so many different
forms of Hip Hop. //
S
16 | OZONE
Spring Bling
2007
LOCATION: Riviera Beach, Florida
Spring breakers from across the country gather in sunny Florida
for BET’s weekend getaway, SPRING BLING ‘07. With whirlwinds
of top performances by the best in Hip Hop and R&B, outrageous
games, car shows, competitions, and newly added surprises this
year’s beach fest will be the best yet.
SHOW HOSTS: BET VJ’s: Terrence & Rocsi (106 & PARK), Julissa (BET
HOST), Alesha Renee & Lamorne (HOTWYRED), Danella (THE BLACK
CARPET), Big Tigger (BET VETERAN), and more celebrity surprises
WHERE: Singers Island at Riviera Beach in West Palm Beach,
Florida 33404
WHEN: Tapings - Friday, March 23, 2007 @ 11 a.m. Saturday, March
24, 2007 @ 11 a.m. Sunday, March 25, 2007 @ 11 a.m. Premiere
Telecast - April 5th-8th 2007 (check Local Listings for Times)
AUDIENCE: Free audience ticket requests for persons 18 and
older who
TICKETS: are able to present a valid state ID, school ID or passport may be submitted via email to [email protected] with
the text “SPRING BLING” in the subject line. NO PHONE CALLS
PLEASE.
Make sure that you mention that you got your information from
Black Beach Week for FASTER Service
When does the BET Spring Bling 2007 take place?
g
n
i
l
B
g
n
i
r
p
S
March 23-25, 2007 (Friday 10:00-7:00 PM) -- (Saturday 10:00
AM- 7:00 PM) -- (Sunday 12:00 - 5:00 PM)
a
Info g
lack
/www.b
: http:/
from
thered
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ringbli
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eek.co
beachw
OZONE | 17
L
E
T
R
A
C
EVERLY
ULIA B
F
WORDS
OS // J
& PHOT
irst off, every artist that blows up
seems to come out with their own
group, and not all of them are necessarily good enough to have their
own album. So what makes Carol City
Cartel different?
Torch: Cause we’re the best.
Rick Ross: Listen, we’re the best, first and
foremost. It’s the big boss Ricky Ross. It took
me a long time to get here, but the first thing
I always said was, “When I get on, I’m going
to return that favor and put the next man on.”
And at the same time, it’s one of the best moves
you can make as an entrepreneur. I got the
realest, wildest young niggas out of the hood
and gave them an opportunity to see this thing
come to life. That’s what Torch and Gun Play
are all about. There’s a lot more dudes that
ride with us, but this is who we’re focusing on.
We’re coming with the debut album Black Flag.
It’s going to be legendary. We got everybody
on there. Cool & Dre, Jazze Pha, Young Jeezy, DJ
Toomp, a lot of people.
from Minneapolis last night, so we ‘Tussed out.
I got some clean coming but I’m not gonna fuck
with that til tonight cause I ain’t really trying
to overdose right now. That’s a whole ‘nother
issue. ODTV.
Rick Ross: Overdose TV coming soon. Happy
endings!
Gun Play: Nah, I ain’t got Overdose TV coming,
just a DVD.
You used to be driving the white-on-white;
now you’ve got the black-on-black and got an
album coming out called Black Flag. Why the
switch?
Rick Ross: Yeah, the white-on-white, that represented the birth of my career. Now, the blackon-black represents the death of the enemy.
But you only named two. He said you’re on five
drugs. What’s the other three?
Gun Play: You know, somebody got some fire
skittles, and I’m with that too. These niggas
blow them fat dirtys too. But that’s another
segment. Black Flag coming soon. I’m the underboss, man. Ross took me, by the back of my
neck like a little puppy, when I was a kid, and
just basically showed me how to get money and
how to interact with real niggas, real playas,
across the map. He molded my career and I followed him cause I knew he was a boss early.
And your enemy is who?
Rick Ross: Man, a lot of bustas. Triple C, y’all
better go get that album and you’ll learn.
Gun Play, a lot of people have seen you performing with Rick at his shows, and you’re kind
of hard to miss. You’ve got a real unique look.
Rick Ross: You know, that’s cause he’s on five
drugs right now. That’s why he looks like that.
[laughs]
What drugs are you on right now?
Gun Play: I’m on some yellow. That’s that syrup,
that real good ‘Tuss, ya feel me? We just flew in
18 | OZONE
Happy endings?
Gun Play: That’s another interview. That’s
another movie.
Rick Ross: Gun Play is the black Tommy Lee.
So you’re self-destructive?
Gun Play: Very. [laughs] But we ain’t going to
get into all that.
I’m going to be your psychologist right now.
Gun Play: Nah, listen, I’m the underboss. Don’t
worry about the drugs, that’s a whole ‘nother
segment.
So he was kind of a father figure to you?
Gun Play: Yeah, you know, it’s deeper than that.
I got these C’s on my eyes, these black flags on
the other side. I’m a fucking billboard. It’s [Carol
City Cartel] all over, you know?
So for the people who aren’t from Miami, let ‘em
know what Carol City Cartel is all about.
Rick Ross: Carol City is all about money, man.
The Big Boss Ricky Ross is so confident in his two up and
coming lyricists, (l to r) Gun Play and Torch, that he’ll put a
million on either of their success. When you hear Carol City
Cartel’s music you’ll understand why it’s
E A
CM
MA
REAL, RAW, & UNCENSORED SOUTHERN RAP
E T: N
ON AS LK RSO
OZ T COURF TADE CA
S T
WE-40,LL, CLY
I heard Rick had to bail you out a couple days
ago. What was that about?
Gun Play: [laughs] Ooh, shit. Who told you about
that? Yeah, I was fucking around on some shit
and almost missed my flight to Chicago the next
day for a New Years’ Eve party. You know, when
I get the girl at the end of the night, that’s a
happy ending. But why are you talking about my
problems again? That’s a whole different issue...
US
PL
That’s where the biggest players come from. The
biggest hustlers, the most gettin’-money niggas
in the world.
Gun Play: It’s all about the MIA. We rep the
whole city of Miami. We most definitely rep Carol
City, but the whole 305, we ridin’ with them. This
is the city of dope. That’s where we come from.
FIGHT
THE
POWER:
THE FEDS vs.
DJ DRAMA
The rest of this interview
is featured in the April
issue of OZONE Magazine. Visit us online at
www.ozonemag.com
THE SECOND ANNUAL
DJ ISSUE
&
RICK ROSS
THE
CAROL CITY
MIMS
PIMP C
LIL FLIP
THREE 6 MAFIA
SLIM THUG’s BOSS HOGG OUTLAWZ
BIG BOI & PURPLE RIBBON
B.G.’s CHOPPER CITY BOYZ
YOUNG JEEZY’s USDA
CARTEL
& MORE
GUIDE
ROADTRIP
KING
IMATE RAP
KICK HACHLIS
T
LOUS SIDE
ST: THE*ULT
GRILLZ WIS& MORE
SCANDA
* RAPQUE
* GANGSTA
OZONE | 19
20 | OZONE
a
n
h
c
o
t
a
e
y
Da b B
cluing
list
Desert Inn Resort
900 N. Atlantic Ave
Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Fuel Night Club
640 N. Grandview Ave.
Daytona Beach, FL
386-248-8243
Razzle’s Night Club
555 Seabreeze Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL
386-255-6348
South Beach Night Club
1260 N. Atlantic Ave
Daytona Beach, FL 32118
386-257-7431
OZONE | 21
Boy Wonder
Words: Ms Riverity // Photo: Ernest Olds Jr.
22 | OZONE
B
oy Wonder is a 20-year-old Brazilian rapper from Tampa, FL. He got
his start in the music business as a
promoter and soon discovered he had a hidden
talent for writing as well. Working with Tampa
top dogs like Acafool and DJ Christion, Boy
Wonder is quickly making a name for himself
in Central Florida. His new mixtape The Prince
features several remixes and an abundance of
originality.
What is your heritage?
I’m black and Brazilian.
Since you have such a diverse background, who
were some of your influences?
Talib Kweli, Lil Wayne, Outkast and Michael Jackson. When I was little, my parents used to sit me
in front of the TV. That’s when they used to play
Mike heavy on MTV.
Why did you decide to start rapping?
I started off promoting for the Black Jack Boys
here in Tampa. That’s when I started seeing how
the music scene works from the inside. I also
started DJing for them. With their stuff, it was
a lot of ups and downs and bickering. With so
many people, they bumped heads a lot. It’s so
easy if you got good music; you can make it. I
seen so many people that don’t got good music
be put in the right position. One day, Acafool
called me to the studio ‘cause he wanted to
do a song for a new dance called the Jackson
Heights. So I went there and he thought I was
good. He said if I came up with a third verse, I
could have the song. He kept feeding me beats
ever since then. I wasn’t ever like, “I’m gonna be
a rapper,” but it just came out of the blue.
You used to play soccer, right? Why did you stop?
I just got burned out. I started playing as soon
as I could walk. My father played professional
soccer in Brazil, and so did all my uncles. It was
just in my blood. When I was 13, I was the best
player in the state and one of the best players
in the nation. Two years after that I stopped
‘cause I was also playing basketball.
What do you like most about making music?
Ain’t no rules. You can express yourself the way
you want to. If you send out the right message,
it’s a lot of people you can affect. You can
change a whole culture.
Do you have a large Brazilian audience?
Not yet, but as soon as we get it moving, I’ll
start moving out. I’m going to get it locked
down in my city first but I get hit on Myspace all
the time about it. People are like, “I didn’t know
you were Brazilian.” I got a song on the mixtape
where I’m rapping in Portuguese, too. I’ve been
working on that.
How supportive have the Tampa DJs been of
your music?
They’ve been cool. As long as it’s hot, they’ll
play it. Of course, it’s always gonna be a few DJs
that are harder to get at, but if the people want
it, eventually they gotta play it.
What’s the deal with your mixtape with DJ
Christion?
It’s fire. It plays all the way through. Christion
got the music and put his touch on it. Me and
him are starting to work on a lot of stuff. I just
did the “Buy You a Drink” freestyle for 98.7.
Every time he’s on the air, he plays it.
How many songs on the mixtape have original
production?
About three or four and the rest is jacked beats.
I just wanted to show what I could do lyrically. I
can freestyle but I can also put a song together.
I feel the only way to compare to rappers is to
put them on the same beat.
What do you feel is your strongest trait as a
rapper?
That I’m Brazilian. There’s never been a Brazilian
rapper to come out so it’s something different.
For those who haven’t heard your music, how
would you describe your sound?
I’m real lyrical. Everybody says that with the
way I speak and pronounce my words, I have
a down South accent, but my punchlines and
flow are more Northern. I grew up listening to
a lot of up North music, then in high school I
started going to the down South. My slang has a
Southern swagger but I’m lyrical.
Who are some people you’d like to work with in
the future?
Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas. He did a
whole Sergio Mendes remix CD. Sergio Mendes is
an old Brazilian singer. I also want to work with
Timbaland. Me and Young Capone from Atlanta
been supposed to link up. We’ve just both been
busy. We’re gonna get on something real soon.
What future projects are you working on?
I’m doing more shows coming up in different
cities. Be looking out. Check me out on Myspace
www.myspace.com/boywonder813. //
OZONE | 23
24 | OZONE
MIMS
Randy Roper
Words & Photo by
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OZONE | 25
26 | OZONE
words // Eric N. Pe
ERIC JO
rrin | PHOTOS //
HNSON
DA’s
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to take you on one
28
OZONE
28 | OZONE
(l to r) Slick Pulla, Young Jeezy, & BloodRaw
zy
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Bloodraw
OZONE
OZONE | 29
T
he calendar posted on the back wall of the lofty Corporate Thugz Entertainment office on Atlanta’s Northwest side is a virtual treasure map. It leads to riches. There is a color coordinated
marking for almost every day of the month, directing the corporate thugs to different cities,
different events, different places to collect money. There are three colors that appear on the calendar;
green, yellow and blue. Green indicates a Young Jeezy bounty, blue represents BloodRaw, and yellow
means Slick Pulla. It is a simple yet effective system that helps organize and arrange the hectic schedules of three rappers who consider themselves brothers. But there’s a twist. This Spring, when USDA
releases its first group project, Corporate Thuggin’, the colors on the calendar will collide, blending
together to form a new hue: Gold. They wouldn’t mind platinum, either, but in the fairy tales, the chase
is always for the gold. In USDA’s fable, however, the journey has been anything but a fairy tale ride.
The road to completing the Corporate Thuggin’ album was once more like a nightmarish expedition,
spiraling out of control. In January 2006, BloodRaw had been picked up by US Marshals and put on
trial in his hometown of Panama City, Florida, where he faced a possible life sentence for Federal drug
conspiracy charges. “The whole family prayed because this nigga was facing a life sentence. It was
either life or he was going home,” explains a now-exhaled Jeezy. “During the same time, Slick [Pulla]
got shot and a lot of shit like that was going on.”
Then, in April, 2006, the USDA story got a lot better, “On April 6, 2006, I was acquitted, and by the
blessing of God I’m here,” proudly proclaims BloodRaw. “There was a lot of niggas who held they nuts
and counted me out, they say niggas was giving each other high-fives at the club, but this is destiny,
homie. Can’t nobody stop this.”
It certainly appears destiny is on their side. Even with all odds stacked against them, the Corporate
Thugz are in harmony. Jeezy, Slick, and Raw are now more focused than ever and all the tribulations
{
}
if that’s l
We thugs, a
nna cal
what youcw
porate
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world. Wtet’r
oney
and ge ing m
30 | OZONE
- bloodraw
have left the music unchanged. “It’s real street music, we been sticking to the same formula. It was the
same thing coming in and it’s gonna be the same formula coming out,” affirms Slick. “It’s three great
minds thinking alike for one common cause, and that’s to put the real back into this street movement,
man. We gon’ give the people what they want.”
Jeezy has been giving the people what they want for a while now, but even he seems youthfully excited about the USDA project. “It’s just time for USDA. Niggas been hearing me scream that shit every
since I been doing my thing, so now its time to hear ‘em,” says Jeezy. “I’m just excited to see the
project come together and the album is hard is fuck. This shit is hard; it’s what the streets need.”
Young Jeezy
So the new project is called Corporate Thuggin’. Tell me a little about it?
Young Jeezy: Ah, man, I’m excited about it. I finally get a chance to show the hood my niggas and
these niggas really deserve it. [Blood]Raw; he had a lot going on, man. He was facing a life sentence,
and this is like the second or third time this done happened since we’ve been trying to work on the
project and complete it. Also, during the same time, Slick got shot and a lot of shit like that was going
on, but those are my niggas. A lot of niggas get on and forget about their homies, but them my niggas
and they really can rap, so I’m just excited to see the project come together and the album is hard is
fuck. This shit is hard; it’s what the streets need. This gon’ be the record of the summer, period, hands
down. Over here at CTE, we make records. We don’t make just singles, we make albums, shit you can
ride to and live to.
Your Inspiration album just reached platinum status, so congratulations on that. I know you had high
expectations. Are you satisfied thus far with your albums sales?
Young Jeezy: Yeah, definitely, when you say a sophomore album, niggas normally fumble on that shit,
and I really done me on that CD. I wanted to change it up a little bit, but at the same time I don’t
wanna stay where I’m at. The shit is called progress. If you gon’ build a foundation you have to make
progress. You’re not gonna stay on the first level of your house, you gotta step it up. A lot of niggas
ain’t got the street credibility that I got or been through what I’ve been through, or can talk about the
things I talk about. So I’m gonna be the best at it, let that be known, but at the end of the day, people
grow with you. You get better and if you talk about real shit, they grow with you. But you still the same
nigga. Ain’t nothing change but my boxers, homie, for real...
The rest of this interview is featured in
the April issue of OZONE Magazine. Visit us
online at www.ozonemag.com
OZONE | 31
32 | OZONE
OZONE | 33
Tarvoria
34 | OZONE
T
arvoria has been singing all her life.
She got her start in church and the
school chorus and has never stopped
since. Although she represents Daytona to the
fullest, Tarvoria is far from a local artist. She
can be seen anywhere that’s popping and she
shares the wealth with those around her. Once
a month Tarvoria holds a showcase for aspiring
musicians in her hometown and she’s currently
working on a documentary.
You have a busy show schedule. Do you have a
manager or booking agent that helps you get
shows?
Elora Mason from E. Mason & Associates is my
manager.
Do you think it’s necessary to have a good
manager as an artist?
I think it’s very important to have a good manager but you gotta at least be a go-getter for
yourself and have some know-how. But to have
a great management team, as well as be able to
stand on your own two feet and grind, it makes
it even bigger.
What are some of the pros and cons of being an
indie artist?
The pros of being an independent artist is
you get to be the boss. You watch the money
come in and you watch the money go out. The
disadvantage to being an independent artist is
that sometimes you don’t have the capital to
supply the demand and you need that major
backing for people to take you serious. It’s just
a harder and longer struggle to get to where
you’re trying to go. Being independent, you
learn a lot more. I’m thankful I’ve been able to
do the things I’ve done and to have gone to the
places I’ve gone without being attached to a
major situation. I’d love to be signed to a major
but if I’m never signed, it doesn’t matter ‘cause
I know how to go and get it.
If a major label were to offer you a deal, what
would you be looking for?
I’d definitely want to have the publishing. I just
want the best situation that’s going to benefit
everybody in my camp, to help us advance
financially. I don’t want anything strenuous. I
gotta have creative control. I need to really own
all my publishing but things don’t always go
down the way you want ‘em to go. There’s never
such a thing as the perfect deal, but I’m accepting it. As long as I get big money writing and
the freedom to be Tarvoria, I’m good.
How are you different from other female artists?
Everybody that knows Tarvoria as a person,
knows that I’m real humble. I like to have a
good time. When it comes to Tarvoria as an artist, I’m a realist – a real life artist. I like to talk
about things that are going on now. Everybody
sings about love, I just do it in a different way. I
say what us women may be afraid to say. I may
talk to the guys the way they’ve been looking
for a woman to say, but they don’t expect us
to say those things. What we aren’t realizing as
artists in the industry is that music is a message.
We have to make sure we deliver a message in
our lyrics. That’s what makes me different.
You went to college, right? What was your
major?
I went to Bethune Cookman College. I majored
in Business Management and Music Performance.
As of right now, I’m on a break [from college]
‘cause I’m trying to do the music thing.
Have you had any formal training as a singer?
Yeah, back in the day I had an agent that taught
me how to be an entertainer, coached me, and
helped me develop my stage presence. As far as
my vocal abilities, I took some vocal lessons in
college but that was pretty much it.
Tell me about some of your singles.
My new single that’s out right now is called
“Probation.” We’re pushing that real heavy in
the streets. You know, everybody’s been in
some kind of trouble or had to deal with the
law in some kind of way, or worked a job and
had to be on a thirty day probation period just
to get where they’re going. It’s a song telling
everybody that’s out here grinding that you
gotta watch the way you grind ‘cause it’s always
somebody trying to stop you from getting what
you’re trying to get.
Who produced it?
Gorilla Tek of the Drum Majorz. He also produced
my single “Slide.” I’ve also worked with T Berry
On Da Trax, 88 Keyz out of New York, 9 Beats,
and Crime Mob’s producer did a record on my
mixtape called “Like Me.” As far as writing, I’ve
worked with Jim Jonsin, Khao, Stevie Morales,
everybody.
Is there anything else you want to mention?
Stay on the lookout for the new R&B mixtape
hitting the streets April 10th. It’s called Nothin’
But Da Truth. I’m about to give y’all a lot more
Tarvoria. I also want to shout out DJ Rell, DJ
D-Strong, Disco & The City Boyz, Cease a.k.a. Mr.
Willie Mays, 386, and all of Feel Good Muzik. You
can learn more about me at www.tarvoria.com.
I value everyone’s opinion about my music so
hit me up. //
www.myspace.com/tarvoria
OZONE | 35
Redd
Eyezz
NEW MONEY
words: n. ali early // photo: JULIA BEVERLY
36 | OZONE
EY
OZONE | 37
W
hat was the transition like for you going over to Strictly Business Records and taking on
the responsibilities of a CEO?
Making the transition was real smooth because my whole vision was to become a boss
and become an entrepreneur, just do my own thing in this game. So coming over here, bossman on
this side, he had the same vision I had. So it made the marriage a lot smoother. It was just a matter
of being in a position and doing the day to day things to run a label and get it to the point where
we were making some noise and we were being consistent with it. Over here at SBR I have the power
to do whatever I need to do to get to the next level as well as have all the things that I need. All the
avenues are there: staff, studio, computers. And, by me coming over here I started my own company
- sorta like Lil Wayne – he got his own label and he’s the President of Ca$h Money. My situation is
very, very similar with BIG Entertainment. I’m running my label and over at SBR I’m really giving
all the guidance, how we should move, what feels right to me and [everything else]. r thing in that
sense.
I know you’ve been handling your business on the street level, but what prepared you for SBR from a
business standpoint?
When I started out at Most Wanted Records and then ZOE Pound, we was always niggas out the
streets so we had to learn for ourselves. I had to peep game from other artists and watch what they
do. I had to go and get these budgets and go see the radio personnel. So every time I met someone,
an A&R, somebody at the studio, I kept their number, kept the relationship and they built. So what I
learned in this game is it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. I learned that I had to know these
people. So I built relationships with these people and that prepared me for this. Being responsible
for budgets prepared me for this. Me being a hungry artist prepared me. I was constantly training
myself to do this. Even when people was [hatin’] tellin’ me to go back to what I was doin’ cause it
wasn’t workin’, [I kept going.] But all the shit that I did in the past all the way up to this point is
what got me up to this point. So I’ma continue doin’ it cause that’s what’s gettin’ me where I need
to go.
How long did you fuck around with ZOE Pound?
Shit, I was there since the beginning. We prolly started like in ’95 and somewhere in ’99 or 2000 I
went on the road with Juvy. At the time I was workin’ on my solo project and Juve heard it. When
him and Baby heard it, and I got on the Baller Blockin’ Tour, did a couple spots on the Ruff Ryder
Tour and I was just doin’ my thing from that. Once I got on with Juve we became closer. When you
with a nigga every day for three months, you eat, sleep, shit [together], you become close. It was
five or six years before I went solo and started doing the Redd Eyezz thing.
38 | OZONE
}
trying to cash
These guys anr.eTh
at’s all it’s m
checks ma ’ a ch
eck and I’
about: cashin
all for that.
What was your role with ZOE Pound?
I was an artist, but not just an artist. I did a lot of things, from graphics on the album covers,
making songs, picking tracks, gettin’ the credits right on the album, making sure producers signed
release forms, my ideas were very influential. I played A&R roles, all that. All the shit I did in the
past is what I’m doing exactly right now. I was a big part of the Brother Marquis record, the Wu Tang
album. The first single we came with, that’s me that made up that hook. When it came to the music I
was everything.
What about outside of the music?
Outside of the music? I can’t speak on outside of the music (laughs). All I know is music. That’s all I
do. Outside of the music we was street niggas. I can’t lie. We was from Little Haiti and I ain’t gonna
say we was angels. We wasn’t the nicest kids, but we wasn’t the kind that went lookin’ for trouble.
We were more like the kind that defended our territory and defended what we believed in. But
outside of music if I felt like I had a problem in the streets for real, my power was just as influential
in music as it is in the street.
What’s your relationship like with them now?
Right now I travel a lot. It’s still the same. The thing is I just be gone a lot traveling. All the artists
are not here. It started off with four and it’s only one left besides me. I feel like I gotta get my foot
in there and set it off for [us], or vice versa. If the Pound set off first then we get it like that. Whoever get it in first. That’s the page we on. It’s love. One hand washes the other. And when I say get in
first I mean whoever gets a big deal first, because I am ZOE Pound.
Being an original member of the Pound, how do you feel about other rappers calling it out in their
rhymes, like 50 and Cam?
People ask me that all the time, who’s side am I on and I like to say this: First of all, I’m not eating
on either side. So there is no side. There’s no preference, because to me I know it’s no beef for real.
From my understanding it’s not beef for real. If it was beef for real it would be a shooting. These
guys are trying to cash checks, man. That’s all it’s about: cashin’ a check. I’m all for that. //
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40 | OZONE
OZONE | 41

Spring Bling - Ozone Magazine

Transcription

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