Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ozone Mag #35 - Jun 2005
Ozone Mag #35 - Jun 2005
Julia Beverly
MUSIC REVIEWS:
ADG, Wally Sparks
CONTRIBUTORS:
Bogan, Cynthia Coutard, Dain Bur-
roughs, Darnella Dunham, Felisha
Foxx, Felita Knight, Iisha Hillmon,
Jaro Vacek, Jessica Koslow, J
Lash, Katerina Perez, Keith Ken-
nedy, K.G. Mosley, King Yella,
Lisa Coleman, Malik “Copafeel”
Abdul, Marcus DeWayne, Matt
Sonzala, Maurice G. Garland,
Natalia Gomez, Noel Malcolm,
Ray Tamarra, Rayfield Warren,
Rohit Loomba, Spiff, Swift
SALES CONSULTANT:
Che’ Johnson (Gotta Boogie)
LEGAL AFFAIRS:
Kyle P. King, P.A. (King Law
Firm)
STREET REPS:
Al-My-T, B-Lord, Bill
Rickett, Black, Bull, Cedric
Walker, Chill, Chilly C,
Chuck T, Controller, Dap,
Delight, Dereck Washing-
ton, Derek Jurand, Dwayne
Barnum, Dr. Doom, Ed the
World Famous, Episode,
General, H-Vidal, Hol-
lywood, Jammin’ Jay,
Janky, Jason Brown, Joe
Anthony, Judah, Kami-
kaze, Klarc Shepard, Kydd
Joe, Lex, Lump, Marco
Mall, Miguel, Mr. Lee,
Music & More, Nick@Nite,
Pat Pat, PhattLipp, Pimp
G, Quest, Red Dawn,
Rippy, Rob-Lo, Statik,
Stax, TJ’s DJ’s, Trina
Edwards, Vicious, Victor
Walker, Voodoo, Wild Bill
ADMINISTRATIVE:
Melinda Paz, Nikki Kancey
CIRCULATION:
Mercedes (Strictly
Streets)
Buggah D. Govanah (On
Point)
Big Teach (Big Mouth)
Efren Mauricio (Direct
Promo)
JB, I read your article on BET, and I wanna tell complishment. Much respect to OZONE! – Ms. is a threat to cops and security guard-types. In
you, man, keep bussin’ they ass! That’s a real Rivercity, msrivercity@yahoo.com (Jackson- my eyes, all that happened was you being in-
reality check for their ass. We need more writ- ville, FL) vited by some friends of yours in the rap game,
ers to do the same! – Greedy, greedy@mycin- and BET was hating cause you was cool with
gular.blackberry.net (Jackson, MS) Yo, OZONE, don’t sweat the negative feedback them. I’m with you. Fuck puss-ass BET. Wait til
from people who were mad that their favor- OZONE gets their own channel. – Q904balla@
JB, I loved your “2 cents” editorial. I must say ite artist wasn’t on the MTV Jams/OZONE 25 aol.com (Jacksonville, FL)
I’m quite impressed because you’re a girl and Greatest Southern Artists list. I’m not too sure
love hip-hop (no disrespect towards your female what it was based on, but I’m glad someone at I’m a fan of your mag, for real. I read JB’s cur-
abilities). You are now my new role model for least took the time to recognize the fact that rent 2 cents and I’m glad you got vindication
2005 and forever. Love the magazine. You get we Southerners have what it takes. On another and are still willing to forgive and forget with
two thumbs up. Congratulations on your recent note, free Pimp C! That was a really good look that whole BET situation. – Rad-Z, raddness@
awards, and I wish OZONE the best as it grows doing an article on that cat. I miss the UGK mycidco.com (Deland, FL)
to become even more successful. – Trell Bol- combo even though Bun B is holding it down.
ling, shyne70058@yahoo.com Hopefully this mag will blow up to the point I checked out your May 2005 edition, and I must
where people ain’t buying The Source, VIBE, say again that the “all of the above” journalist
Fuck BET! Ha ha. I loved your editorial. Damn, and all those other New York mags that are out has done it again. You were holdin’ it down in
JB! You really impressed me with the way you there. Jax got your back. – Enemy904@aol.com your 2 cents section. I’ve always hated the way
handled BET and their staff of haters. That re- (Jacksonville, FL) BET handled their business. They are begin-
ally took some balls. BET should be trying to in- ning to suck. You should do an article on that
terview you! I know it ain’t easy being a female I read your editorial about BET. That’s some real new Marques Houston video that they banned
in the industry, especially being a white female. bullshit. That was some hating-ass shit. Being from BET. They play all kinds of shit, like Nel-
It’s a whole lot stacked against you and your that you’re white, I’m laughing because I would ly’s “Tip Drill” with him sliding a damn credit
success, so for you to have taken your magazine think the cops wouldn’t sweat you like that. But card down a chick’s ass crack, but as soon as
from nothing to what it is today is a huge ac- you are a part of hip-hop, and anything hip-hop a naked man appears on TV with the camera
“[After I got out of prison], hip-hop is the same shit, different toilet. Four labels,
already
two radio stations, one video station. And if you ain’t in cahoots, then you are
fucked from the beginnin g - bottom line.” Ras Kass, The Source (June 2005)
.
“I’d never have surgery on my face. I’ve never seen that work out for anybody
Marie Presley, Blender Magazin e (June 2005)
You should leave your face alone.” – Lisa
never came out
“Niggas look at me like, ‘Why Prospect and Geddy never came out?’ Maybe they
want to work.” - Fat Joe, XXL (May 2005)
because they never went into the studio and made an album. Maybe they didn’t
learned lesson one of surviving in the hood: under
“[Dave Mays’] heart pumps pink kool aid. For all his love of the ghetto, he never
to take the ass-whoopin’ than to be [Benzino’s]
no circumstances are you to ever give your lunch money to a bully. It is far better
persona l ATM.” – Reginald Dennis interview on hiphopdx.com
Hey, Elliott at XXL! I know you see OZONE coming up strong! I know you’re running out of shit
to write about too, now that your Destroy The Source mission is nearly complete. Time to play
defense. Say hi to G-Unit for me. Ha! But pay no attention, I’m just talkin’ shit cause y’all
never send me any damn freelance work. At least VIBE appreciates me.
Hey! It’s finally June. Happy birthday to me. By the time you read this, I’ll be 24. I’ve been
waiting six months to accurately quote T.I.’s “Tha King”:
Photo Credits:
Carmen Davis: #21
J Lash: #07,14
Julia Beverly: #02,03,04,05,
10,11,15,16,17,18,19,20
Keadron Smith: #13
KG Mosley: #08
Malik Abdul: #06,09
On Point: #01
Spiff: #12
Photo Credits:
Dove: #01
Iisha Hillmon: #02
J Lash: #06,16,21
Julia Beverly: #04,05,09,11,
12,13,15,17,19,20
King Yella: #03
Malik Abdul: #07,08,10,18
Spiff: #14
When you met was it a friendly vibe or sex- The other girl said he had a small dick. What’s his situation with Ashanti?
ual? That’s the one part of her story that was semi- From my understanding of the situation, they
It was definitely a were trying to make a
friendly thing, but we
were really attracted “[Nelly] was some of the best sex I’ve ever experienced relationship work but
it didn’t seem like it
to each other. I wasn’t
sure if I wanted to go in my life, to be honest...He’s a talker. He asks a lot of was serious enough
for him to stop sleep-
there. We communi-
cated for the next few
questions and talks throughout the whole process.” ing with other people.
I probably shouldn’t
weeks and I continued have even said that,
to go with my friend to various cities. Every accurate. The size isn’t that great. It’s short and though. From what I know, he cares about her.
time I was at a show or an afterparty, we were wide. Maybe like six inches. It’s wide, though,
just going back and forth on a friendly basis. so maybe it looks shorter than it is. I think she Have you slept with any other rappers be-
was exaggerating a little bit, but yeah, I wasn’t sides Nelly?
Why were you hesitant to “go there”? impressed by his size either. No. This was an exception for me. When I met
I don’t know. I was just thinking it was bad, him, I knew who he was, but I definitely wasn’t
and I probably shouldn’t. Because of how I was So the sex was good? a fan of his. I had never purchased a Nelly CD.
raised, I guess. It was some of the best I’ve ever experienced I was just attracted to him physically, because
in my life, to be honest. He’s really consider- he’s my type. I’ve been approached by other
You didn’t want to sleep with him because he ate. He’s a talker. He asks a lot of questions and rappers, but I definitely don’t plan on sleep-
was a rapper? talks throughout the whole process. He’s very ing with them. I don’t agree with sleeping with
Well, it wasn’t so much because he was a rap- considerate and concerned with your feelings. every famous person or entertainer that you
per. It was mostly because we just didn’t know meet, but I guess some people might read this
each other that well. What kinds of questions did he ask? story and consider me to be a groupie.
Before he did anything, he’d ask, “Is it okay if I
Did he tell you why he was attracted to you? do this? Can I touch you there? Do you like this?” Would you be offended if someone called you
We talked about it at a later date, as far as Stuff like that. He asked me, “Are you gonna a groupie?
what the initial attraction was. Part of it was cum? How can I make you cum?” He’s definitely I don’t think I’d be offended, but I wouldn’t
just how I look. Later on he told me that it was a talker throughout. agree with them. A groupie is a person who
because I wasn’t really chasing him. pursues someone for the sole reason of their
Since it was a good experience, did you wish fame. I don’t think that describes me. I’m not
Did you see a lot of girls chasing him? you’d slept with him sooner? looking for anybody’s money. I have an estab-
Definitely, yeah. No, I was glad that I waited so long. I think the lished career and a college degree, so I’m not
fact that we did wait so long was part of the out here sleeping with rappers to get money.
At what point did it become sexual? reason that it even occurred, like, that was part
A few weeks after we initially met, he had of the reason he was attracted to me. If I had to If the sex was good and y’all were friends,
another concert date and we were flirting at do that over, I probably wouldn’t change it. why not try to develop a relationship?
the afterparty. We were staying in the same I know who he is and I know that I could never
hotel, and everybody was up late. I got back Do you think he asked questions like that to really try to have a one-on-one relationship
late and eventually just went to sleep. The protect himself from any false accusations? with a rapper who gets panties thrown at him
next morning me and my friend were say- You know, make sure you wanted the same on a daily basis. A man is only as faithful as
ing goodbye to everybody from the tour. thing he wanted? his options, and he’s got plenty of options. If
We’d gotten really familiar with most of Yeah, I think part of it was self-preservation, I’m gonna call somebody my man, I’d like to
the people on the tour, and the artists but some of the questions went above and be- be able to spend time with them more often.
knew who we were. I had the chance to yond that. I think his nature is just that he likes I didn’t go into it thinking he was gonna be my
go say good bye to Nelly and my friend to talk during sex. future husband.
Photo Credits:
H Vidal: #03,11
JC: #10
J Lash: #15
Julia Beverly: #02,04,06,07,
09,16,18,20,21
KG Mosley: #08,13
Malik Abdul: #05,14
Marcus Jethro: #17
Sophia Jones: #19
Spiff: #01
Wally Sparks: #12
Interesting.
Kane: Me and D-Roc got something for these
niggas. For every nigga, I’m gonna spit a rap
on y’all cause I’m gonna tell y’all that. Gang-
sta like Frank Nitty, don’t want the keys to
my city like P Diddy / I just wanna rep for the
neighborhood / So when you slide through my
city I can always keep the word that the fla-
vor good / Now I don’t sell this and I don’t sell
that / But I dwell where them boys get them
cell cases at / To a thug that might be thinkin’
young grip ain’t street / You ain’t gonna up
your ranking if you worryin’ bout me / Your
mind on the decline, your line on thin / If
you don’t find something to do wit’ ya time
you won’t win / I ain’t tellin’ y’all fuck nig-
gas again / Y’all can’t fuck with the Ying Yang
Twins / They hated on me before I got a grip
/ I got it now but still they don’t give a fuck
/ I’ll be a fool to think that y’all like me / I
bet it’s some niggas that don’t know me that
wanna fight me / Ain’t too many niggas that
(l to r): Kane and D-Roc
can rap that excite me / A lot of these niggas
walk around here tryin’ to bite me / You can’t
recite me and you might not like me but don’t “Pull Yo’ Hair”? What inspired you to cut your hair off, D-
dislike it, get like it BITCH! D-Roc: Everything. We got a gospel song on the Roc?
D-Roc: Yeah, what he said. album, an Al Green remake. Kane: He wanna be the Ying, and I’m gonna stay
Kane: We got a war song on the album for the the Yang.
So now that we’ve all heard “Wait,” we are soldiers called “Ghetto Classy.” D-Roc: Nah, I cut my hair, cause, don’t I look
waiting to hear what your album is gonna D-Roc: We got a song called “Live Again” with cute? (laughing) Nah, cause I wanted to go
sound like. Maroon 5. That’s for the strippers that are tired on more of a business look. Don’t I look cute
D-Roc: It’s gonna sound like what he just said. of working at the strip club? though?
Our album is called U.S.A.: United States of Kane: Me and my brother wrote the song. I wrote
Atlanta. It’s gonna explain that you better the hook and Maroon 5 sunt it. I’m just lettin’ You’re going for a different look and a differ-
understand Atlanta after you hear this al- you know before it get out. We wrote that song. ent sound this time around?
bum. We made an album for everybody that You want me to sing the hook for you? D-Roc: Yeah, yeah, yeah, cause you gonna see a
thinks Atlanta is just about crunk music. It’s lot of business comin’ out of Ying Yang this year
not. You’ve got people that go to church in Sure. like HANNNNNNNNNH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our business
Atlanta, people that work in Atlanta, people Kane: She stuff off in this lil’ room (room) / Wit’ gonna be on point like HANNNNNNNNNH!!!!!
that sell dope in Atlanta, you got skrippers in nothin’ else to hold on to (to) / Her life is in a
Atlanta, you got bums in Atlanta. Atlanta is lil’ box (box) / She wondering, will it ever stop? What kind of business ventures do you have
not just crunk, but still, people been getting (stop) / Life of a stripper / I’m so sick and I’m coming up?
crunk in Atlanta since I was zero years old. so tired of this club / I keep crying every night D-Roc: Everything! Everything I put my hands
Twenty-six years I’ve been getting crunk in At- cause the years pass me by / I give up, I’m all on. I’m tryin’ to make it go gold. I might open
lanta. Crunk has been the way of Atlanta since in / My whole life is full of sin / This road is a up a soul food restaurant. I might open up a
Atlanta been Atlanta. dead end / I wanna live again. But it sound like Laundromat. Hey, I might do anything. Ying
Kane: I don’t consider crunk to be a move- Maroon 5 wrote it. I told my momma, I was sup- Yang gonna venture off this year. Just be on the
ment. I just consider the East and the West posed to be a white boy (laughing). Hey, since look out. I might make my own car and call it
coast and then there’s the South, cause we this is for OZONE, since I did the hook I’m gonna Yingsu.
wasn’t making enough noise to be like them. go ahead and do the rap.
So now life goes in a full circle. D-Roc: This is live and direct. Who else is featured on the album besides
D-Roc: HANNNNNNNNNH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kane: From the nipple to the bottle, never sat- Maroon 5?
Kane: Life don’t go in a boomerang. isfied / But the money got you doin’ things to D-Roc: Man, you got me on the album, and my
D-Roc: HANNNNNNNNNH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mess up your pride / But you really just tryin’ brother on the album (laughing). Nah, we got
Kane: So now it’s time for the third coast to to get by / Every day you lookin’ up in the sky Mike Jones on the album, Lil Jon, Teedra Mo-
get they fair shot. / Sometimes shit gets so hard it really have ses, Pitbull, Jacki-O, Anthony Hamilton. United
D-Roc: HANNNNNNNNNH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you bothered / First you sigh, then you cry States of Atlanta in stores June 28th. Bet when
Kane: Cause the East coast and the West coast up a whole puddle of water / It seem like shit you buy our album you gon’ be satisfied. I ain’t
been controllin’ the game since it started. ain’t never gonna end / Merry-go-rounds turn to even got a copy of the album yet. I been wait-
D-Roc: HANNNNNNNNNH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! whirlwinds / Wait ‘til it turns into a hurricane / ing for a copy my damn self. My boss man won’t
Kane: The third coast in there now. Don’t If you see joy, you got to see pain / Shit in the give it to me, but when he do, ain’t nobody
get mad. We got 63% of the game. world ain’t ever gonna change / Even when you gonna know.
D-Roc: HANNNNNNNNNH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! die, it’ll be the same / You ain’t lookin’ at my Kane: We puttin’ it down for our folk at OZONE
Kane: And it ain’t because we fake. circumstance / Jobs ain’t callin’ so you forced to as only we can. It’s the Ying Yang Twins, we
D-Roc: HANNNNNNNNNH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dance / Hopin’ and prayin’ for a second chance doin’ a lot of things so we got to cut the time
Kane: Like my homie Jeezy says: real / Just wanna put back on yo’ pants / Walk out short. So now it’s time to say goodbye / To all
talk, nigga! the club and throw up yo’ hands / Tired of be- our OZONE friends / Thank you from D-Roc
ing disrespected by a man / Sayin’ this shit ain’t and Kane / And we make the Ying Yang Twins
What other types of songs do you right for you / A nigga been yellin’ all night for / Gone!
have on there besides the “intimate you / Gotta do what’s best for you / Walk up to
club music” songs like “Wait” and the club and tell ‘em YOU’RE THROUGH! - Interview and photos by Julia Beverly
Photo Credits:
Carmen Davis: #01
J Lash: #09,17
Julia Beverly: #03,04,07,11,
12,14,15,16,18,19,20
Keadron Smith: #06
Malik Abdul: #08,10
Sandman: #13
Shoeb Malik: #02
Sophia Jones: #05,21
Photo Credits:
Bogan: #02
J Lash: #01,20
Julia Beverly: #04,05,07,09,
11,14,15,16,18,19,21
Keadron Smith: #08
Malik Abdul: #03,10,12,13
Marcus Jethro: #17
Spiff: #06
You’ve got several new artists, like Young trepreneur, I just rolled reckless. Now I got a job life into, it’s all going to be meshed together.
Capone, T. Waters, Slim. What was it about and I got to make sure I keep everybody in line You got to turn your cell off. You got to learn
these artists that made you sign them? as well as myself. to break it down. A lot of people look at me
Everybody came to me individually, as me strange, but you have to. At this point, my girl-
looking for my gang. What can you bring to How did you get the position at Virgin? friend is from the most famous black family in
the gang? You never have enough guns. T. Wa- It came from shopping around a deal for me, music and people are always trying to be in her
ters was an artist whose cousin was pushing looking for places to go. I wanted a position like business as much as possible whether because
him heavy at Magic City. I’d see his cousin this. I wanted to be the President or CEO of one of her brother or brothers. And you can never
and he’d say I should listen. I never listened. of these companies. That was my goal. I was tell who’s there for the right reasons. When it
I never listen to CDs that people give me at looking to be more in control. I feel like I bring comes to my private life, I just shut everything
strip clubs because nine times out of ten it a lot more to the table than just making records down.
ain’t no shit that you want to hear anyway. and giving some advice. I never got a shot to
I would take the CD but never put it in. But show people. What do you say to people who say that
if you persistent like that, eventually I’m go- Southern hip-hop is a fad?
ing to check you out. He went over the top. What are some of the lessons you’ve learned I don’t know what that means. What’s the defi-
He was really persistent. Every week. I finally over the years in this business? nition of a fad? A fad is only 2-3 years, to me.
put the CD in and I heard this kid’s voice, and Business is business. That’s the biggest one. I made Kris Kross records in ’92. It’s 2005 right
I’m like, where he from? I couldn’t imagine he That’s a lesson that you got to really understand. now. That’s 13 years. That’s no fad. This is here
was from Atlanta the way he sounded. Then I That’s like shooting someone in cold blood. I had to stay. The kids in the South, they don’t care.
started hearing a lot of country slang as well a friend named Mohammed Bell, Kool’s son from This is good music. This is what they want to
as a lot of up-top slang. Right now, to me 50 Kool & The Gang. Me and his son were best of hear. If you go to the South, they don’t care
Cent sound like a New York country dude. I friends and he had an artist named ROCC that about 50 Cent being #1. They want to hear
felt like, this is what the industry’s missing. was signed to So So Def before. ROCC was a great some of that country music. They don’t care if
That’s what Biggie had. He had the connection artist but we hit a snag in the business side. We Usher sold eight million records. So what? The
between the South and New York. He had that weren’t on the same page with his records. Loretta Twins sold 20 million. Country music
down pat. He spoke the same words that MJG When I left Columbia, I left that artist with has its own world. That’s how Atlanta’s going
& Eightball was talking but he was still from them. It was all business. I can’t snag my life for to be in a minute. You go to Nashville and they
Brooklyn. I signed T. Waters. Young Capone is something that don’t work for us. It wasn’t like I got their own publishing companies. I feel we
a little more lyrical than the average crunk cutthroat him. Business is business. I don’t make should have our own publishing companies in
artist. Most crunk artists just yell and scream money unless I put out product that sells. A lot Atlanta. This city is musical. I’m not going to
at you. Capone is the epitome of young, fly of people want you to put out records just to stop until I see that it’s like that. Until every-
and flashy. He doesn’t have a record deal and put them out. “That’s my man, put him out. You one in the world understands that Southern mu-
he’s popping shit about how fly he was and my man.” There’s guilt when you have to drop sic is a non-stopping movement and Atlanta is
how he’d take your girl. I liked it. It spoke to somebody, but it’s business. Hopefully, you can the new Motown.
me as young, fly and flashy. He fit that gang. get past it. Anybody that’s young, trying to be an
Slim was a young artist from Queens that I executive, you have to understand that. You have a three-year contract with Virgin, so
brought to Atlanta. He got the flair of the what’s your three-year plan?
South with the dialect of New York. How do you keep your business and personal My plan is to make Virgin become hot as far as
lives separate? culture and music. Now, people want to work
Do you have a lot more responsibility as I’m learning how to leave my pagers off, and turn for Virgin. Artists want to sign to Virgin. That’s
head of Urban Music at Virgin? my phones off. In life, every room has a door. I something that wasn’t going on before I came.
A lot of new responsibility. You got to look at it like the Matrix going down the hallway. People was telling me, “You gonna ruin your
watch everybody. You got to watch your If you open the door and bring your phone in career [going with Virgin].” Now I’m sitting in
whole staff and make sure they doing there, you’re bringing all the other shit that goes my office, niggas trying to get jobs. Sending me
they job. You got to stay on top of along with the phone in there, into your house. demos. So Virgin is a place that people want to
them. You got to watch your numbers, And the next thing you know, it’s all going to be be because of me. Now I just got to sell some
the money you’re spending. As an en- in your house. And it’s going to turn your private records.
What was your first performance? came out. Every time I hear a beat, I try to vibe because he gave me this chance on this big la-
My first performance was actually in Puerto with it. bel. At the same time, it’s very competitive be-
Rico with Mannie Fresh for the Mixshow Power cause they have the big guys over here like 50
Summit last year at Club Arena. It was back- What was it like for you growing up? Cent and Eminem. So, I have to try my best to
wards for me because I know you’re supposed My childhood wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good ei- give them the best material to the point where
to start off doing local performances and ther. I’d say it was somewhat in-between. I had they won’t look over me. I have to stand out.
talent shows, but I got a deal before I had a bad days and good days. I wouldn’t say it was the It’s an everyday fight.
chance to perform locally. slummiest of the slums. I’ve seen people killed,
all the dope. I seen all the negativity but I also How did you hook up with Mannie Fresh?
How did you get a deal so easily without go- had a positive side. My mom always tried to keep I was messing with Jazze Pha because Polow
ing through the local circuit? me in church. She balanced it out. gave him my CD. So Jazze Pha flew me out to a
My homeboy Polow from Jim Crow hooked it Cash Money session because he wanted to meet
up. When [Jim Crow] were hot, they were What do you think you’d be doing today if you me. He introduced me to Mannie Fresh and we
coming through Mobile to the radio station. weren’t rapping? hooked up. Fresh wanted to work me ever since
I know DJ Nick@Nite [from WBLX] because I That’s probably why I’m not in prison today, be- then. He stuck to his word. He wanted to work
took my CD up there for him to play. He was cause of my mama. A lot of my kinfolk got locked with me and he made it happen.
playing one of my songs, “Cold As Ice,” and he up so it was an example before me. I took that as
called me when Jim Crow came through the a lesson. I did a lot of stuff where if I got caught Did Polow produce the majority of your al-
station. Me and Polow hooked up. Jim Crow I would be locked up. bum?
were with Interscope. When Polow heard my Polow produced a lot of the album. But he’s not
CD, he flew me down to Atlanta to work with Didn’t you used to be called Lil’ Rich? How’d the type of producer that wants to just put all
him and Bubba Sparxx. They put some mon- you get your name? his records on there. We came up with the best
ey behind studio time for me and we did a I got the name Rich Boy because my daddy of the best.
demo. Polow went to Jimmy Iovine and Jimmy owns a liquor store in the middle of the hood,
loved it. We got a deal. We didn’t even have and people call him Rich. So, the people in the So your first single is called “D-Boyz,” right?
a meeting. neighborhood would always say, “That’s Rich’s What’s the concept of the video for that
boy.” That’s how I came up with the name Rich song?
Do you think you were signed because the Boy. It might sound like it’s glorifying the drug game,
South is so hot right now? but it’s really not. It’s not glorifying drug boys.
My style of rap, I switch it up a lot. I don’t Do you feel pressure to come out strong, be- It’s telling drug dealers who are already in the
feel like I’d be stuck if I came out any other cause there aren’t any major rappers that dope game, here’s the rules. It represents how
time. It’s not really about the South being hot. have come out Mobile? everybody wants to be a drug dealer these
The way my music is, it’s more of a universal It’s a lot of pressure. A lot of people think it days. The kids look up to the drug dealers more
thing. I got songs that sound like you probably would feel good, but it keeps your mind work- than they look up to people who graduated
couldn’t pinpoint my location. ing. Every morning I wake up and I feel like I got from college.
to do something for the hometown. They never
I heard a few of your songs and they have a had anybody on TV representing them. It’s big Do you think that’s a big problem with hip-
real party vibe. What other types of songs for the city [for me to get signed to Interscope]. hop today?
do you have? They probably feel better about it than me. I’m I feel like some rappers do give a positive im-
Most of the topics I talk about on my songs just trying to stay focused. age, but some give off a negative image. But,
are street characteristics, things I did on if people are buying their CDs, that’s what they
the street, or seen first-hand. It’s just Getting signed to Interscope is big. They’re want to listen to. You can listen to the negative
rapping about stuff I can relate to as far basically the biggest hip-hop label that’s out stuff, but it all depends on how you’ve been
as the streets of Mobile, Alabama. All of there right now. raised. If you’re raised right, it won’t rub off
them, they give a different vibe. De- I feel like it was destiny. I feel sometimes that on you.
pends how the person feels when they God put me here for a reason. I feel like I do
hear it. Sometimes a party vibe just have to deliver a positive message sometimes - Jessica Koslow (photo: Julia Beverly)
When you were traveling back and forth between Dallas and At-
lanta, how hard was it to maintain both markets?
It wasn’t that bad. I did a hot club in Dallas called Club Blue on
Friday nights, so I’d stay up all night, catch the 5:30 AM flight to
Atlanta. Get in around 9 AM, go home, take a nap, then go to the
radio station around 5 PM. I’d go on the air at 6, spin at The Bounce
and Pin-Ups, then go back to Dallas on the 3 o’clock flight and be at
work in Dallas by 6.
Aside from DJing abilities, what do you think are important skills
to have in radio?
Marketing is very important. You’ve got to do things to brand your
name and be out here in the community, for real. I do scholarship
funds, after-school programs. I take kids every year to the White
House, the Smithsonian Institute, Tuskegee, Disney World, stuff
like that. People can tell if you’re real or fake, so if you’re
able to really connect with the community that makes you
stand out.
Walk me through some of the songs on the album. What’s the concept Do we have features from the rest of the BME family on this album?
of the songs, and who’s featured on them? Dirty Mouf: Yeah, we got E-40, Lil J from Crime Mob, and Lil Jon, of
L.A.: Well, the intro is us three lettin’ you know that we’ve been gone course.
and now we back. We’re household names now cause of “Some Cut,” and
we just tryin’ to let people know where we been and where we tryin’ How many tracks did you produce for this album?
to take you. Don P: I think I only did two on this album cause I’m saving my tracks
for Trilltown Entertainment. Besides, Lil Jon is the king. Fuck that. Go
After the intro, what’s the first song on the album? ‘head, Jon.
Don P: ”Speak Nothin’ Less,” produced by ya boy Don P. Doin’ it real
big. I think Dirty Mouf’s verse on this song is one of the hottest verses on How exactly did you get the sound effects of the creaking bedspring
the album. Y’all gotta check that song out, that shit is jammin’. It’s off for “Some Cut”?
the chain so make sure y’all get that. Number three is the “Yeah” song Dirty Mouf: We was at L.A.’s house and, you know, we just had the re-
with Three 6 Mafia. You know, it’s my trademark “Yeah.” I had it on the corder up under the bed and it went down.
first album, the Trillville/Scrappy album. They was all asking why I say
“Yeah.” So you were all in the room together?
Don P: Nah, we had slipped it up under the bed and he ain’t even know
How is it different than the Lil Jon “Yeah”? it was in there.
Don P: (demonstrates the difference between his “Yeah!” and Lil Jon’s
“Yeah!”) Then I got the “A” and the “Yeah’s” that I’ve had for years, but I don’t know if I believe that. It sounds a little too crisp on the re-
niggas try to take my “Yeah’s.” cord.
Don P: Anything can be done in the studio. It wasn’t really even intended
Do you consider crunk music to be hip-hop, or do you feel like it’s to be used on a song. IT was gonna be a “skeet” but then Jon was like,
something totally different? “We need to get that on a song.” So we put it in the beginning, and
L.A.: Crunk music is its own general character, ya feel what I’m sayin’? there it was.
That’s what it is. Crunk is crunk.
So you guys are getting a lot more cut now.
So if somebody up North was like, “Oh, I don’t fuck with Trillville, Don P: I’ve been gettin’ cut.
that’s not real hip-hop,” what would you say? L.A.: Yeah, ain’t nothing changed but the range, you know?
Dirty Mouf: Sounds good to me! That’s crunk!
Don P: I mean, I love hip-hop, man. I’m a DJ too so of course I play hip- Speaking of cuttin’, I heard there was a mixtape coming out about
hop records. DJ Corleone. Don P and your, uh, bedroom habits.
Don P: Yeah, yeah. There’s a little mixtape. AIn’t nobody really paying
Do y’all listen to East coast artists? attention to it, so I don’t really wanna blow it up. I ain’t even gonna
Don P: Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, I love Jadakiss. respond to it. It’s a lot of mixtapes where people try to single me out,
Dirty Mouf: Wu-Tang. I guess because I be doin’ some cra-
There’s a lot of people using that term. There’s Webbie and Boosie’s Anything else you want to say?
label Trill Entertainment, Treal from Mississippi with Reese & Bigalow, Dirty Mouf: Trillville Reloaded coming real soon: June 21st.
the group Treal from Orlando… L.A.: New album, new album, new album.
Don P: That’s the originators of trill, Bun B and Pimp C, that’s they thing Don P: Shouts to my boy Eric from BME with the shirts and the shades.
so of course they gonna have a label called Trill. But we got Trilltown He do a lot more than that too, but this is what I like the most besides
Entertainment. him callin’ me, wakin’ me up at six to catch a flight. OZONE Magazine,
we got the cover, yeah!
The group Treal had some comments about you guys in the last issue
of OZONE. Do you have a response to that article? - Interview and photos by Julia Beverly
off Luke, I just wanted to learn and corporations. I look at their Anything else you want to say?
something in the school of hard
knocks. Luke basically taught structure and see what works To contact me, visit www.bigmouth-
promo.com or www.pitbullmusic.com.
me everything I know as far as
working records and thinking and what doesn’t work.” Frans, Bogart, and C-Eye, keep ya head
up. Demi, see you when you get home.
(916) Magazine / The Yay ACE Magazine Block 2 Block Magazine Da Seen Magazine Don Diva Magazine Exposure Magazine
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212-726-1433 frostysflava.com getemmagazine.com 305-804-4188 groovelinemag.com www.hatermagazine.com 256-652-0804
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Streetz Magazine Strip Joint Magazine That’s What’s Up Urban Living Magazine Urban Pages Magazine UrbLife Magazine Xplosive Magazine
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01: Slim Thug and Jimmy Henchman
(Miami, FL)
02: Oowee, Mami Chula, and Don
Magic Juan (Atlanta, GA)
03: DJ Chill, Cris Ward, Trae, and
Slab on the set of Paul Wall’s “Sit-
tin’ Sideways” (Houston, TX)
04: Trick Daddy and Juvenile @
Springfest (Miami, FL)
05: Cadillac Tah, Irv Gotti, and
Ump @ Crobar (Miami, FL)
06: Dirtbag, and DJ Khaled @
Springfest (Miami, FL0
07: Southern Hustlas @ Junk-
yard 2 (Canton, MS)
08: Young Buck reppin’
OZONE @ Southern Univer-
sity (Baton Rouge, LA)
09: Nero, Mr. Magic, and DJ
Pat Pat reppin’ OZONE @
BCR (Daytona Beach, FL)
10: Infarel, H-Vidal, and
Acafool @ Ludacris’ con-
cert (Tampa, FL)
11: Cedric Hollywood
reppin’ OZONE @ Spring-
fest (Miami, FL)
12: Freda Jackson and
B.G. at Club Dreams for
his listening party (New
Orleans, LA)
13: KLC and DJ Black
on the set of Frayser
Boy’s “I Got Dat Drank”
(Houston, TX)
14: Killer Mike reppin’
OZONE @ Springfest
(Miami, FL)
15: DJ Aspekt, Cuban
Link, and Quake @ Baja
(Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
16: Lil Wyte, Todd Mos-
cowitz, and Joie Manda
on the set of Frayser
Boy’s “I Got Dat Drank”
(Houston, TX)
17: Three 6 Mafia
meets Beats by the
Pound: Juicy J, Mo B
Dick, DJ Paul, and KLC
on the set of Frayser
Boy’s “I Got Dat Drank”
(Houston, TX)
18: Sheek Louch, Busta
Rhymes, and Mannie
Fresh (Miami, FL)
19: Lil Keith, DJ Chill,
Cap’n Jack and Paul Wall
reppin’ OZONE @ Konnec-
tions (Houston, TX)
20: Tony B, Bigalow, Treal,
and Reese reppin’ OZONE
@ Junkyard 2 (Canton, MS)
21: Kaspa and Young Cash
@ Club Troy for the Hittmen
DJ’s showcase (Miami, FL)
Photo Credits:
DJ Aspekt: #15
DJ Majick: #10
DJ Pat Pat: #09
J Lash: #01,18
Julia Beverly: #03,04,05,06,
07,13,16,17,19,20,21
King Yella: #08
Malik Abdul: #11,14
Marcus Jethro: #12
Marshall Smith: #02
Photo Credits:
Carmen Davis: #10
J Lash: #02,12
JC: #21
Julia Beverly: #01,03,04,05,
06,07,08,13,14,15,16,17,
18,19,20
Marcus Jethro: #09
On Point: #11
Photo Credits:
Bogan: #09
J Lash: #10,19
JC: #05
Joie Manda: #15
Julia Beverly: #01,02,03,04,
06,07,08,12,13,16,17,20,21
Malik Abdul: #11
Marcus Jethro: #14,18
Photo Credits:
Big Mook: #21
DJ Aspekt: #03
J Lash: #04
Julia Beverly: #09,15,
16,17,18,20
Keadron Smith: #02,19
KG Mosley: #06
Malik Abdul: #01,05,07,
08,14
Marcus Jethro: #10
Marshall Smith: #13
On Point: #11,12
It’s simple. Like Jazze Pha says, “Y’all niggas talkin’, but me
and my niggas make it happen.” Diszwone
doesn’t sit around and wait - he makes it happen. Hard at work,
this Chicago MC is taking after hometown
artists like Do or Die and furthering the street-hop style. Not only
has Disz been influenced by veterans like
Do or Die, but he’s also been on tour with them. He’s also opened
for the likes of Tech Nine, Mobb Deep,
8Ball & MJG, Lil Flip, and many others. “I was performing too,
but when [8Ball & MJG] got on stage, I was
a fan my damn self,” Disz recalls. A product of Chicago’s deep
West side, Disz remembers his childhood.
“Man, I had to grow up fast. I was on my own since age eleven. The
music was always with me, but it wasn’t
paying the bills. The West side was real rough.” Using music to steer
his life’s course in the right direction,
Disz is now poised to release his debut album Illinoise Boy through
a joint venture with his label LMG and
Minnesota Timberwolves’ Troy Hudson’s label Nutty Boyz Entertai
nment. The album features other Chicago
artists like R Kelly and Twista as well as Lil Jon and the Ying Yang
Twins. Disz provided a significant portion
of the album’s production, proving himself as a double threat. To
hype up the album, Disz has been steadily
working the mixtape circuit and preparing to release one of his
own. Once the music game takes off, Disz
wants to get into acting, but says that he’s prepared to “take whateve
r comes in life.” If it wasn’t for the
music, Disz fears the worst. “Truthfully, if it wasn’t for the music,
I’d be in jail or dead by now,” he says.
Fortunately, neither is the case, as Disz is still alive and free to bless
the clubs with his singles like “Serrous.”
(contact: 312-829-4284 or lifemusicgroup@tmail.com) – Rohit Loomba
How did you two meet? Pretty Ricky has come a long way. What projects are you working
Jim Jonsin: We both knew a group called Sons of Jim Jonsin: We’ve been working with them for on right now?
Sacrifice. He grew up with some of them. They had about seven years. I’ve known them since they Jim Jonsin: We’re working on a rock
signed to an indie label and I was doing production were kids, and they kinda grew up around me. record for The Transplants, Travis
with them. That’s how we both grew to respect They’ve always worked hard to develop their Barker’s group. He’s from Blink 182.
each other’s work. music. They were trying to get to that next Big D: We’re trying to do more rock
level. Now they’ve gotten there. I do feel good music and R&B records.
Big D is the quiet one, I guess. about it. Whenever you do a record for an artist
Jim Jonsin: Once you get to know him, he won’t that takes them to the next level, it feels good. Some producers have a lot of tracks
ever stop talking (laughing). Everyone works hard to put an album together, that sound similar. How do you keep a
but when you land an artist’s single and it blows variety?
What are some of the singles you’ve produced? up, it blows up both of you. That feels great. Jim Jonsin: We can switch it up. The two
Jim Jonsin: Trick Daddy’s “Let’s Go,” Pitbull’s of us think totally differently, but when
“Dammit Man,” and we did the majority of Pretty Any plans to start your own label? we get together musically, it works. He’s
Ricky’s album. In the past we’ve worked with Tri- Jim Jonsin: Well, we both had our own labels, very soulful and comes from a gospel/R&B
na, and we have Twista’s new single coming out. but no more.I had a label called Paper Chasers background. I came from the roots of hip-
We did about four records on Bonecrusher’s new with White Dawg. We released his first actual hop and rock. We approach records differ-
album, including his single, and we have some album. ently together than we would individually.
tracks on J-Kwon’s new album. If you listen to records like “Dammit Man”
Does Big D play the instruments for most of and “Grind On Me,” they’re totally differ-
Is there anyone in particular you’ve really en- your tracks? ent. We try not to get stuck on one sound.
joyed working with? Jim Jonsin: D plays about five instruments. I play The problem is that people always ask, “Can
Jim Jonsin: Probably one of the better vibes would a little bit of keys. He plays all the guitars. we get a song like ‘Dammit Man’?” I think
be Bonecrusher and Trick, but they’re all pretty that’s what happens to a lot of producers in
much cool. Trick Daddy is sort of portrayed in a As a producer, do you tend to overanalyze the business. The labels always want a track
bad light sometimes so people come at him in a music too much? Is it hard for you to go out to that sounds like your last hit record.
certain way. They think he’s a thug. He grew up a club and have a good time?
like that, but he’s a reasonable dude. Jim Jonsin: We used to find ourselves over-ana- Any advice for aspiring producers?
lyzing things a lot, but now we just kick back Jim Jonsin: Learn how to make your tracks
Are there any wild studio sessions that come to and listen. As a producer you’re trying to figure sound good quality. It’s very hard to sell a re-
mind? out how to win. You’re trying to figure out how cord when it doesn’t sound mixed properly.
Jim Jonsin: We have a good time, definitely. to get your records to pop off. Like, “Let’s Go” That’s one of the keys. Interning; work with
You’ve gotta come into one of our sessions. Some was original and different. Everybody thought some people who are doing things and learn
are wild, and some are real chill. For the most we were imitating Lil Jon, but records like from experience. That’s how I learned.
part they’re all interesting. “Let’s Go” and “Dammit Man” were actually
done before he even blew up. We never really Any new Miami artists we should look out
How do you think Miami fits into the music scene try to take ideas or study other people’s work, for?
these days? but as a producer, I think you have to always be Jim Jonsin: Look out for Rock Bottom, Tif-
Jim Jonsin: I think we’re right up there with the listening. For the most part, we just love doing fanie, Crystal, and Toe Jams.
best of ‘em. We have some big artists come out of music.
here. I think you could put us right up there with Do you want to give out any contact info?
Atlanta, New York, and L.A. Jim Jonsin: 305-534-8158.