RAW, UNCENSORED WEST COAST RAP SHIT

LIVE FROM FEDERAL PRISON

AH ALFIGAZ UE HTHSMoB oF

DoPE, GUNS, & RELIGIoN

YUKMoUTH
Drugs Are In His Nature

Too $HoRT Hustlin Isnt The Only Option

SAN QUINN
Gettin Grown

LIL D

King of Oakland

MUGZI

The Silverback Gorilla

ER ING EN PR M AJI S DJ AMoRE H

&
OZONE WEST // 

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PUBLISHER Julia Beverly EDITOR-AT-LARGE D-Ray GRAPHIC DESIGNER David KA MUSIC EDITORS Randy Roper Maurice G. Garland ADVERTISING SALES Che Johnson Isiah Campbell CONTRIBUTORS Big Fase 00, DJ BackSide, DJ E-Z Cutt, Jelani, Jessica Essien, Joey Colombo,Kay Newell, Keita Jones, Luvva J, Nippy Swagga, Portia Jackson, Shemp, Todd Davis, Ty Watkins STREET REPS Anthony Deavers, Bigg P-Wee, Big Will, Dee, Demolition Men, DJ Jam-X, DJ Juice, DJ KTone, DJ Nik Bean, DJ Quote, DJ Skee, DJ Strong & Warrior, J Hype, Jasmine Crowe, John Costen, Juice, Kewan Lewis, Luvva J, Maroy, Rob J Official, Rob Reyes, Shauntae Hill, Sherita Saulsberry, Sly Boogy, Syd Robertson, Tonio, Twin, William Major, Zack Cimini COVER CREDITS Husalah photo courtesy of V. Alston.

EDITORS NOTE NEW BEGINNINGS

(BUT IM NoT NEW)
tion, and trust that if I had had my wrapped truck at that time, I wouldve made sure it was parked out front! Later I found out that they had other photographers hit the party claiming they shot for OZONE. I guess their cameras didnt carry the fear mine did. Now I realize that my camera is a threat! OZONE WEST! Statements are being made! So, West Coast, stand tall and show that we deserve this before the shine ends! The XXL reps are haters. I know their magazine is feeling the OZONE invasion! Remember, its all about the team you pick. XXL used to be big out here, but trust me, the streets and the barbershops cant wait for the new issue of OZONE! OZONE is not new at all. Its been around and it gets around. Its not just in the West Coast and its not a new publication. JB has been putting it down! Shes the down south queen that made that team effort to support who she believed in, and the artists made the effort to pay out of their own pockets to support the mag! Look at the folks she was down with from the beginning Pitbull, David Banner, Lil Boosie I can go on and on! WEST COAST, lets get it together. If this isnt a hobby for you and your label, invest in your career and respect the people that help you and believe in you. Dont blind yourself or let your management blind you to believe that you did it yourself, because baby, you didnt! You sure like to see yourself in that OZONE West photo gallery. Thats US supporting YOU. So where do you come in? Well continue to do our part, and all we ask is that you do your part. What other magazine shows so much love to West Coast artists (not counting Snoop)? What up, Snoop? My point is get your business up! - D-RAY, dray@ozonemag.com

art of the game is understanding that this industry is cutthroat. Being a female in it is even worse! You really have to earn the respect you receive. Youre gonna have many doors shut in your face. Sometimes youll understand it and learn to respect it, but other times youll be confused. Ive learned not to be confused just understand that they have BITCHASSNESS in them! Thanks for the word Diddy! It truly fits a lot of situations. Im gonna put something out here right now to make a lot of people wonder. Somebody asked me to shoot a few artists at a XXL party as their personal photographer. Mind you, the party was in the Bay Area! Holla! I am the Bay! I said it! Check the photo credits. Check my resume. The Bay is what I am! So when you come to the Bay you should already know who to call. Thats real, not arrogant. I didnt commit to the shoot because I was scheduled to be in L.A., but I didnt make it to L.A. so I figured Id support a Bay party, XXL or not, because my family is gonna be in the house. Like I normally do, I hit the host of the party to confirm my arrival so there wouldnt be any surprises at the door. Since Ive known him for years I figured there would be no problems. Boy, was I wrong! I was told that I was welcome to come, but not my camera. So I try to compose my attitude and stay professional. Okay. If you know me, you know I dont leave the house without my camera in my Louis Vuitton camera bag and my Chucks on my feet. Why else would I be out if its not work? Im not trying to kick it. Please. I dont drink. The reason was the fear of the photos being placed in a competing magazine?? OZONE TOOK OVER. Thats the way I took that conversa-

oZoNE WEST
6 7-13 8 10 12 14 RAPQWEST PHOTO GALLERIES SHORT STORIES CHAIN REACTION PATIENTLY WAITING: CHRIS NOTEZ PATIENTLY WAITING: HAJI SPRINGER

16-18 HUSALAH
19 20 21 22-23 24 25 26 LIL D SAN QUINN MUGZI YUKMOUTH DJ BOOTH: DJ AMEN CD REVIEWS END ZONE

MAMA SAID KN OCK YOU OUT! Me & LL Cool J at Magic in Vegas!

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RAPQ

EST

>>>>>>>>>> >>>D>NT>E>>>>ITY? >> O> S E YOUR C

ts bs, DJs and artis know which clu us up and let us ting: JB@ozonemag.com Hit represen are worthy of
In an effort to escape the haters, Portland OG on the mic, Cool Nutz is supposedly quitting America and heading to Norway with The Sources Soren Baker documenting the trip true or false? I saw him rockin The Mint in Olympia, WA Andre Nickatina and Coco are headlining a tour that will touch Portland in early March for the annual Pisces Party. Rookie on the IR, Greg Oden, threw a major bash with the A-listers in full effect. Look for new music from Portlands own Braille, Lilla Damone, Sirens Echo and Kenny Mack & ix. When you come to the 0, check out The Ohm and Greek Cuisine. - Luvva J (Myspace.com/luvvaj)

PoRTLAND, oR (503)

Look for the Live From I- Brands Price of The Game release, focused on an anti-prison theme and executive produced by Seattle media-executive, Kitty Wu. The 0 Zulus just celebrated their  year anniversary with visitors coming from NY, Philly, Arizona and Oregon. 0 Zulu will also host the Hip Hop segment of the long-lived Folk Life Festival. A brand new Hip Hop format station may be launching in Vancouver, BC we miss the old Beat 9.! Check for Think Tank Studios compilation, a D&D-like project. Finally, look for Ghetto Prez and Block Teamsters new lifestyle magazine, Night EFX. - Luvva J (Myspace.com/luvvaj)

SEA-TAC, WA (The 206/253/360 & The 604 Too!)

One of the biggest weekends in town, besides All-Star, hit Denver. DJ Ktones birthday bash weekend brought to town artists like Big Tuck, DJ Drama, Kia Shine and OG Ron C for a four day extravaganza. Young J.R.s album release with E-0 and Jayo Felony was huge, and an unknown promoter brought Chingy to town and flopped. Young Doe is set to drop his new album A Product of the Eighties, and Innerstate Ike is dropping Turf Barbie Doll Radio. DJs Big Spade, Chief Rocka, Sabotage, Desert E, Ktone, Krhyminyl, Kdj Above, and M are keeping the city moving with weekly spots. Vouch Mag is set to launch real soon so be on the lookout for that. - DJ Ktone (Myspace.com/djktonedotcom) A recent parking lot shooting left three people wounded at Zazoos. This situation was the last straw for city officials. The promoter surrendered their cabaret permit leaving the town without an official Top 0/Hip Hop club to party at (for now). In the meantime, the Paramount Theater plays the alternative for the grown and sophisticated as it hosts Keith Sweat and Bell Biv Devoes Ladies Night Reunion Tour. Chris Rock will perform four sold-out nights on the strength that the town loves a good laugh. - Kay Newell (Kayozonemag@gmail.com)

DENVER, Co (303, 720)

oAKLAND, CA (510)

SAN JoSE, CA (408)

The Southbay is a whole different breed surrounded by multi-million dollar corporations and the police departments zero tolerance policy. Nonetheless, with all that money floatin around, Silicon Valley has a tremendous nightlife. KMELs DJ Rick Lee and super-hyphy producer Traxamillion hold down open mic Wednesdays at the Underground Spot inside UGMX Studios. Its open to all ages and no ID is required. The ultra sexy Fahrenheit lounge and restaurant is for the valleys fashionably elite with an event happening every night (like Karaoke on Mondays and College Night on Tuesdays) and rotating DJs in the mix. And dont miss the action on Friday and Saturday nights at Cuchinis and just up the way in the city of Sunnyvale the spot to be is Abyss. - Kay Newell (Kayozonemag@gmail.com)

Its been magical in Vegas with the Magic Fashion Convention bringing many people in the industry together over a  day span. Jay-Z, Beyonce, Diddy, LL Cool J, and Young Jeezy were all spotted at the Magic Convention. Undefeated boxing champion Floyd Money Mayweather celebrated his birthday at Jet Nightclub. His next fight is scheduled in the WWE ring at Wrestlemania on Pay Per View. Everyones been sliding through keeping it lit in Vegas. Both Poetry and Spin Nightclub have been battling for the best acts with performers rockin both clubs including Lil Wayne, Young Buck, E-0, DJ Kid Capri, Ray J, Yung Berg, and Fabolous. The scene is sizzlin before the summer begins. - Portia Jackson (PortiaJ@sprint.blackberry.net)

LAS VEGAS, NV: (702)

VALLEJo, CA: (707)

While the city of Vall-E-Jo continues making headlines in their efforts to avoid being the first California city to go bankrupt, E-0 is putting the final touches on his soon-to-be released album Ball Street Journal. The first single, Turf Drop, produced by and featuring Lil Jon, proves that hyphy isnt dead. - Kay Newell (Kayozonemag@gmail.com)

Famed Hip Hop journalist Eric Arnold put Hip Hop station 0 KMEL (and music director Big Von Johnson) on blast for [editors note: allegedly] killing the hyphy movement and its lack of proper support toward Bay artists. Theres a lot of rattled nerves in the station so this should have an interesting outcome. The nightlife continues to flourish all over town as promoters Location keep it crackin with special events for the Bays beloved sports teams (Warriors, Raiders, 9ers). Just up the Peninsula, Wild 9.9s DJ E-Rock and KMELs DJ Rick Lee get in the mix at the newest hotspot Gossip Ultra Lounge in San Mateo. - Kay Newell (Kayozonemag@gmail.com)

SAN FRANCISCo, CA (415)

PHoENIx, AZ (602,623, 480)

Weeks after the shocking Super Bowl win for the New York Giants, the most watched Super Bowl to-date, Phoenix is still cooling off from one hot weekend. The OZONE Super Bowl edition featuring Bizzy Bone on the cover led all the fans to the star-studded events including parties from companies like Playboy and Victorias Secret, to events featuring T-Pain, Flo Rida, Fat Joe, P. Diddy and more. This month G-Units Sha Money XL brought us the highly attended One-Stop-Shop Producers Conference on with more than 700 producers hitting the Valley. Its called the One Stop Shop by Money Management Group because there is no other place you can go to sell tracks to A&Rs, find a good manager, and shop for a publishing deal. It was one sure stop for March! - Jasmine Crowe (jasmine.crowe@mystjazz.com)

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(above L-R): Travis Barker & Mistah FAB @ Jet Nightclub in the Mirage for Stars & Straps Magic afterparty in Las Vegas, NV (Photo: D-Ray); Young Buck, Roccett, & Young Jeezy @ Jet for Famous Stars & Straps Magic afterparty in Las Vegas, NV; Lil Wayne & Mack Maine @ Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, AZ (Photos: Julia Beverly)

0 // The Federation @ Poetry (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Mitchy Slick & ladies @ Club Asia in Planet Hollywood (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Big Tuck @ the Yums booth during Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Keisha Nicole & Devi Dev on the set of Glasses Malones Certified video shoot (Watts, CA) 0 // Roccett & Red Cafe @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Yung Joc & Doug E Fresh @ Glendale Civic Center during Super Bowl weekend (Phoenix, AZ) 07 // Lil Wayne & guest @ Tucson Convention Center (Tucson, AZ) 08 // Doug E Freshs sons Tripps, Gleamz, & Slim of Square Off @ Glendale Civic Center during Super Bowl weekend (Phoenix, AZ) 09 // Kurupt & Damani @ the Playboy Club for Snoop Doggs Life Of The Party video shoot (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Phil Tha Agony & Talib Kweli on the set of Strong Arm Steadys Stripper Pole video shoot (Las Vegas, NV)  // Matt, Gino Green, & Kevin @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV)  // Travis Barker & crew with Mr Cartoon & Paul Wall @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV)  // Rizzo, Krayzie Bone, & Mauly T @ Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA)  // Jeff Panzer & Akon on the set of Glasses Malones Certified video shoot (Watts, CA)  // Mistah FAB & Dove @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV)  // Colby ODonis, Delicious D, & Homeboy Miguel @ Club Vivid (San Jose, CA) 7 // Chris Notez & Ernie Romero on the set of Bizzy Bones A Song For You (Phoenix, AZ) 8 // Bishop Lamont & Cy Fyre (Los Angeles, CA) 9 // Spider Loc & TD @ Spin Nightclub for Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV) Photo Credits: D-Ray (0,0,0,0,09,0,,,,); Intl K (8); Julia Beverly (0,0,07,08,,,7,9)

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or over twenty years, rappers have been telling stories of selling drugs and everything that goes along with it: the best cars, the finest women, getting shot, making more money than any of us can imagine, doing time in prison, killing enemies, or being killed. Our grandfathers couldve been street thugs when they were young. The option has always been there. Im from East Oakland, California, and what I saw coming up in the 80s and what I see right now today is basically identical. In some cities like Los Angeles or Chicago, a youngsta from the hood is given the opportunity to join a gang when they get to middle school or even while theyre still in elementary school. People say thats just the way it is, but I dont think thats true. I know what it was like in the hood before crack cocaine turned us into a bunch of Tony Montanas. With the invention of crack cocaine and the introduction of automatic weapons into the inner cities, the government was able to put new laws on the books to lock up crack dealers and users for several years even if their case involved only small amounts of the drug. Im in my 0s now and a lot of my homies that went to prison when we were in our 0s are just now coming home. Ask them to tell you about their cases. They say the Feds, the state, and the local authorities lie to get convictions; theyll interpret laws any way they want to be able to convict you. Once they get you in the system, its hard to be free again. When you come home, youre on parole or in a halfway house and any minor run-in with the law might land you right back in prison. People who have been through this process can tell you that it was a set-up. Hustling and having a lot of money for a few years is not worth doing 0 years in prison. I truly respect a hustler who comes from nothing and is still able to get a taste of the good life. I like to see you at the club pulling up in a new Benz with a female that looks like a video vixen. I cant hate on that. But what I do hate is the fact that a lot of street hustlers dont invest in the hood before its too late. How many drug dealers can you name that never fell off, never went to prison, and never got killed? I dont know the answer to that question. I cant even tell you why a youngsta would even pick crack dealing as his occupation, unless he doesnt know that its a trap. But if he says, Im selling dope in the trap, he must know exactly what it is. It doesnt make sense why anybody would become a crackhead for the first time these days, now that weve all seen the results of smoking crack. The point Im trying to make is this: Do you know why youre a thug? Its because youve been brainwashed and programmed for self-destruction so you can fill the prisons, which are modern-day slave warehouses. Youre a thug because its easier for us to kill each other than for America to personally wipe out the undesirable descendants of African slaves. Whats the difference between a serial killer and a lil homie in the hood who kills over and over again in the name of holding down his gang and being a real thug til the day he dies? Not much, in my opinion. We call em riders. I dont blame rap music, but I do understand how we got brainwashed. Ive been raising lil pimps for over twenty years in the name of entertainment. For me to be in a studio and not rap about pimps and hoes is like a crackhead having a pipe and a rock but not smoking it. But I cant even tell the lil homies that all this time Ive been rapping about pimpin, I really treat my women good. I admit to being a player, but I dont call the women around me bitches. A lot of rapping thugs never sold drugs and never will sell drugs. Its entertainment.

DO YOU KNOW WHY YOURE A THUG? ITS BECAUSE YOUVE BEEN BRAINWASHED AND PROGRAMMED FOR SELF-DESTRUCTION SO YOU CAN FILL THE PRISONS, WHICH ARE MODERN-DAY SLAVE WAREHOUSES. YOURE A THUG BECAUSE ITS EASIER FOR US TO KILL EACH OTHER THAN FOR AMERICA TO PERSONALLY WIPE OUT THE UNDESIRABLE DESCENDANTS OF AFRICAN SLAVES.

I see the lil homies disrespecting females and looking over to me for approval. They talk openly about violence, just like their fathers did in the 80s. Many of our youngstas have already accepted death, prison, and the thug life as their only option. I think that as the communitys loudest voice, rappers need to tell the truth: KIDS IN THE INNER CITIES OF AMERICA DO HAVE CHOICES. Its okay to be square. Its okay if youre not a thug. Its okay to go to college, and its okay to chase your dreams. // Photo: D-Ray

8 // OZONE WEST

(above L-R): Bizzy Bone & DMX on the set of Bizzy Bones A Song For You in Phoenix, AZ (Photo: Julia Beverly); Spider Loc & Roccett @ Jet Nightclub in the Mirage for Stars & Straps Magic afterparty in Las Vegas, NV (Photo: D-Ray); Mr Cartoon & Paul Wall @ Magic in Las Vegas, NV (Photo: Julia Beverly)

0 // Mistah FAB, Glasses Malone, Jamal, & Akon on the set of Glasses Malones Certified video shoot (Watts, CA) 0 // Nicho & Suge Knight @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Krondon & DJ Big Dee on the set of Strong Arm Steadys Stripper Pole video shoot (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Kanardo Davis & Bizzy Bone on the set of Bizzy Bones A Song For You (Phoenix, AZ) 0 // Young Jeezy & Young Buck @ Jet for Famous Stars & Straps Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // LL Cool J @ the Todd Smith booth during Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 07 // Dem Hoodstarz, Layzie Bone, & Bun B @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 08 // Michael Watts & Da Ryno @ the Yums booth during Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 09 // Roccett & Akon @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Dre Dae & DJ Big Dee @ Spin Nightclub for Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV)  // Thaddaeus McAdams & Young Jeezy @ Strike Bowling Alley in the Rio for Young Jeezys listening party (Las Vegas, NV)  // J Diggs & K-Loc @ the Blow Big Show (Humbolt County, CA)  // Clay D & Young Buck @ Spin Nightclub for Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV)  // Travis Barker & Young Jeezy @ Jet for Famous Stars & Straps Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV)  // Tef & D-Ray @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV)  // Sha Money XL & his wife @ Jet Nightclub in the Mirage for Stars & Straps Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV) 7 // Layzie Bone, Bun B, & Mauly T @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 8 // Cellski & Chingo Bling @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 9 // DMX revving up his engine on the set of Bizzy Bones A Song For You (Phoenix, AZ) Photo Credits: D-Ray (0,0,0,09,,,); Julia Beverly (0,0,07,08,,,,7,8); Lamar Rashaw (0,0);

OZONE WEST // 99 OZONE WEST //

SHE LIKED MY NECKLACE AND STARTED RELAXIN, THATS WHAT THE FUCK I CALL A

hey say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, this picture is worth $. million. These fine pieces of flashy artwork are brought to you by Ben Baller and Icee Fresh Jewels. Pay close attention or you just might miss something. Check the Interstate 0 piece. Yes, that one. It was made over  years ago and has been bitten by your favorite rapper. All of them. And they have failed miserably each and every time. Peep the iced out cross to the right. Yeah, Fat Joe has that exact same cross in the Make It Rain video. And on the left side, the soon to be infamous praying hands piece made popular by none other than the late, great Pimp C. You will get a better look at this piece real soon. I promise. The flyboys piece. Utter ridiculous with the flying wings design and last but not least, the whole damn state of California iced out!! Are you serious?! Then on the left wrist an iced out G-Shock watch with the face frozen and the right wrist a fully flooded out band and face.

We shut down the Slauson Super Mall in Los Angeles when these pics were taken. No one could walk by and NOT stop and stare at the display of ice on Ben. One girl even stopped and broke out her camera phone and took her own picture too. Is he a rapper? You can hear some people saying as they walked by and stared in amazement. Naw, sweetheart, rappers dont get gwap like this. In LA, the hustlers are the real go-gettas. The gangstas are the ones living it up like rappers wish they could. The last thing I asked Ben Baller was, Can anybody fuck with Icee Fresh Jewels right now? His answer was, Just shut the fuck up with that question right there, homie. Nobody can see us. And there you have it. Words by Big Chris Photo by Shaiquann

0 // OZONE WEST

BEN BALLER
BLING BLING

(above L-R): Glasses Malone & Mack 0 on the set of Glasses Malones Certified video shoot in Watts, CA; Fabolous & Young Jeezy @ Strike Bowling Alley in the Rio for Young Jeezys listening party in Las Vegas, NV (Photos: D-Ray); Bun B & Big Tuck @ Magic in Las Vegas, NV (Photo: Julia Beverly)

0 // The Jacka & Haji Springer @ the Blow Big Show (Humbolt County, CA) 0 // Rick Edwards, D-Ray, & Roccett @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Latin Prince, Mack 0, Glasses Malone, & Nick Peace on the set of Glasses Malones Certified video shoot (Watts, CA) 0 // DJ Amen & Solemon @ Tucson Convention Center (Tucson, AZ) 0 // Michael Watts & Mama Cita @ the Yums booth during Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Young Buck & Spider Loc @ Spin Nightclub for Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV) 07 // Mistah FAB & Taje @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 08 // Bone Thugz N Harmony & their crew @ Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA) 09 // Young Dro, Richie Rich, & Bun B @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // DMX pours a glass for Bizzy Bone on the set of Bizzy Bones A Song For You (Phoenix, AZ)  // Bibi Guns & Dee Sonoram @ Jet Nightclub in the Mirage for Stars & Straps Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV)  // King Tech, the Avila Brothers, DJ Revolution, BamBoo, & Roc-C @ Power 0 (Los Angeles, CA)  // Kam & Taje on the set of Glasses Malones Certified video shoot (Watts, CA)  // FedX & Rydah J. Klyde @ the Blow Big Show (Humbolt County, CA)  // Mitchy Slick, Talib Kweli, & Krondon on the set of Strong Arm Steadys Stripper Pole video shoot (Las Vegas, NV)  // Colby ODonis & G. Malone on the set of Glasses Malones Certified video shoot (Watts, CA) 7 // Bun B & Sha Money XL @ Spin Nightclub for Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV) 8 // Kevin Delaney & Spiff @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 9 // Little Bruce & Dubee aka Suga Wolf @ the Blow Big Show (Humbolt County, CA) Photo Credits: D-Ray (0,0,0,07,08,,,,,,,9); Julia Beverly (0,0,0,09,0,7,8)

OZONE WEST //  OZONE WEST // 

Chris Notez
lessed is the word often used when Ch ris gratefully describe s his deal with After Notez Platinum Records. Collaborat ing Bone, Notez blesse d the emotionally cha with his labelmate Bizzy rged chorus for Biz single A Song for zys new You. The song, wh ich also features DM trates years of expe X, illusrience which Chris acquired through the choir and singing gro church ups during his youth taught him the art . This experience no of vo t only note, it also demonst cal instrumentation and hitting just the right rates where his imme are derived from. asurable depth and soul When asked to talk about the inspirati on behind the song explains, A Song Chris for You is a classic from my guy Donn God bless his soul. y Hathaway, Its a positive messa ge for all the peop through the struggle le going . Wh emotion from the son en it graced my ears, I felt a lot of soul an g. I definitely put tha gonna touch a lot t magic behind it. Its d of people and really change peoples liv happy to be a part es. Im of it. Its an experie nce that Notez humb to as unbelievable ly refers . He continues, H ere I am as a kid list these artists, never ening to actually thinking I wo with anybody like that. Its a dream to uld end up on [a record] me. Everything is un ing before my eyes foldso fast that I dont even have time to breath e, think, or anything .I just wanna say tha t Im ecstatic. I tha nk Go for this opportunit y that I have with the d m. Its an experience I will only was working wit never forget. Not h a memory that Chris two music veterans will never forget, bu t so was the filming the video which rec ently aired on Rap City. Th e scene was one tha t he describes as beau tiful. We shot it ou t in Arizona at a big ol mansion. Its gonn a be my mansion one day, Chris envisions. After being discovere d R&B showcase in Gle at a local Hip Hop and ndale, Arizona by Aft er Platinums Ernie Ro mero, Chris was ask ed to corroborate his tal ents in the studio. From there the opportunit ies Ive had an opportu mounted. Chris says, nity to get on a Big gie Smalls tribute track wit Bobby Valentino, an h Chingy, 0 Cent, d Lil Kim. Ive done a lot of stuff with MC Ma gic. I got a lot of son gs on Bizzys album. Its all coming so fast for your boy. Although Chris admits that A Song You is his biggest for record to date, he is currently piecing togeth er melodies for his own album slated for rel ease this summer. Chris hopes that the message behind his music makes a difference in the world. I done been through a gang of stuff and I want to have an opportunity to write about it. I know som the experiences Iv e of e been through in my life and Im definitely no t the only person tha been through these ts things. Im proud to be

PHOENIX, AZ

privileged to share these experiences with illustrates his purpo se by saying, Im try people. He furthers ing is not like that no mo re. It hasnt been lik to make classics. Music just trying to bring e that in years so we something real spe re cia and give everybod y something they can l back to the music game really feel. Thats my overall goal. Yeah, I wanna make mone main y and take care of myself, my friends my family, and live my biggest dreams, but first an most, I just wanna d foremake people happy and make God happ y. These sentiments cap tur aside from his giving e his good hearted nature in a nutsh ell, pe also says hes the mi rsonality and outgoing characteristics but , Chris ssi he adds. Theres no ng element in the game. Im definite ly real, ta case the ladies were lot of realness out there anymore. An d in wo the future of R&B, he ndering what Notez brings to the tab le as reveals, Im a great kitchen with me, its cook. If you ever ge a wr t in the type of guy. I got som ap. Im just a cool, calm, collected, humble ething for everybod and family. Thats me y. Im everybodys friend wrapped up in one beautiful package. // Words by Ms. Riverc ity

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(above L-R): Red Cafe & Akon @ Magic in Las Vegas, NV (Photo: D-Ray); Willie Esco & Willy Northpole @ the Blanco Label booth during Magic in Las Vegas, NV (Photo: Julia Beverly); Bishop Lamont & his mom on the set of Glasses Malones Certified video shoot in Watts, CA (Photo: D-Ray)

0 // Glasses Malone, Kilo, & Mistah FAB on the set of Glasses Malones Certified video shoot (Watts, CA) 0 // DJ Big Dee & DJ Masterweb @ Spin Nightclub (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Strong Arm Steady & ladies on the set of Strong Arm Steadys Stripper Pole video shoot (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Miami Da Most & AP9 @ the Blow Big Show (Humbolt County, CA) 0 // Tito Bell & Pitbull @ Poetry (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Bun B & Young Buck @ Spin Nightclub for Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV) 07 // Pusha T of The Clipse & Mistah FAB @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 08 // John Costen, Ray J, & Dorsey @ Club Vivid (San Jose, CA) 09 // DJ Franzen & Young Jeezy @ Strike Bowling Alley in the Rio for Young Jeezys listening party (Las Vegas, NV) 0 // Selomon & crew @ Club Pearl for Royal Epic Clothing afterparty (Tucson, AZ)  // Lamar Rashaw & DMX on the set of Bizzy Bones A Song For You (Phoenix, AZ)  // Mistah FAB & Osiris of Swurv Radio @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV)  // Ed Strickland, Bizzy Bone, Ernie Romero, & Rage on the set of Bizzy Bones Bizzy Bones A Song For You (Phoenix, AZ)  // Lil Wayne & D-Ray @ Tucson Convention Center (Tucson, AZ)  // Roccett & Smurf @ Jet for Famous Stars & Straps Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV)  // Astor Chambers, guest, Clark Kent, & guest @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) 7 // Dre Dae & Pitbull @ Spin Nightclub for Magic afterparty (Las Vegas, NV) 8 // Guest, Bizzy Bone, Rage, DMX, Ernie Romero, & Chris Notez on the set of Bizzy Bones Bizzy Bones A Song For You (Phoenix, AZ) 9 // Dave Mays reppin Monsta Magazine @ Magic (Las Vegas, NV) Photo Credits: D-Ray (0,0,0,0,08,09,,,8); Julia Beverly (0,0,07,,,,7,9); Lamar Rashaw (); Malik Abdul (0)

OZONE WEST //  OZONE WEST // 

aji Springer H
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world sonalities in the medical hen you have multiple per ld its commonhrenia, but in the rap wor its called schizop inger. Lil Wayne and now Haji Spr place. It worked for Diddy, ht colors at an all-white wearing brig Springer stands out like hes raised on the grimy ian ethnicity, that he was party due partly to his Ind - and for one of the as importantly he raps streets of Oakland, and just Bay. minent rap labels in the most pro

OAKLAND, CA

record for the eration of Thizz artists who Unlike some of the new gen Haji is one of the few whom he shared a Dre, are cool, label but never knew Mac g himself. Me and Mac Dre Humboldt al relationship with the Kin person m after a performance in a hotel roo he says reminiscing from I opened up a lot of shows r the phone, and County. I talked to him ove me and J. Diggs away. Rims Spinnin [with] big when he for him before he passed ain time, and it was real a cert gave me was actually my song at I put it on my album? It asked me, Can the industry. my jump-start in classic Thizz-certified In 007 Haji released the os for (he personally financed vide /Im Hello Buddy Back and Indian Rapper the singles Hajis ted the album by A Do My Thang and promo mble a taxi cab) ng a Chrysler Hemi to rese wrappi record, the rs prior dropped his first but eight yea niker d P.I.D. Talk, under the mo Bambino-produce P.I.D. alot had changed in Between the seven years the hyphy movement was the Bay Area, and that name in exchange taking off so he shedded s was getting Haji Springer, whom he say for for his . While working on tracks more money t would i saw an opportunity tha next album Haj life. He explains, [A] eventually change his so when I seen closed mouth dont get fed up? I day I was like, Cuz, whats J. Diggs one ters out the pen, I see your pos know you fresh a song; Im that Indian everywhere, lets do aling purple clouds dude, he says slowly exh h me, and He came and fucked wit in the air. did was Rims Spinnin. It the first song we t me into Thizz and was big how Diggs brough . It was a blessing oduced me to everybody intr even lettin that stuff [and] for them doing all black. in this shit cause I wasnt a boy like me ality but I keep it real so Im a different nation me. thats why they fuck with l sounds of Bay artInfluenced by the musica Andre Nickatina and Dre ists like GLP family, with Keak the Sneak, Dog, and having worked third album, uth, and Baby Bash Hajis Yukmo to (theres also a Hindu version Indian Prince later this year), is more be released in India than the hyphy about the Haji movement ed, but Im on ent. Not to sound conceit movem s, still l of what Im doing, he say another leve nt trip to India. I can get weary from a rece more about bringing hyphy sometimes but its pin in my l music to the table. Im rap that rea ple , on some of it showing peo language, too ible with this shit. I let em that Im really flex e spit it; its not a know that this Indian dud // Do not sleep on the kid. game. Words by Kay Newell Photo by D-Ray

 // OZONE WEST  // OZONE WEST

OZONE WEST // 

husa

dope, guns, l ah & religion Words and p

hotos by D-R ay

usalah was born into the life of his name, straight out of the El Pueblo Housing projects in Pittsburg, CA. He is a legend in his community; its always a huge party when Husalah is out. If youve never heard his music, you should take the time to gig for a minute, straight Hus style. Here, OZONE brings light to one of the Bays biggest talents, whose record Cuttin It Up is a regional favorite. Hus is also / of the popular group the Mob Figaz. Currently serving a five year sentence for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in San Pedro, CA, Husalah has spent his time in prison strengthening his faith. How old were you when you recorded your first song? I was about  or , me and my producer RobLo, back in about th or 7th grade. We had a group called Undaje. We were dope. Rob use to steal raps from his older brother Jaquin, so I had to come tight. I never knew he was stealing raps from a grown man until I got older, so I was rapping in a group with a grown man when I was only . I guess thats another reason why Im so dope. Thats crazy you asked that question; it brought back memories. Kris Kross wore their clothes inside out, but we wore ours backwards. (laughs) We were real young ninjas, you know, his beats were as dope then as they are now. Rob is actually amazing and super dope. How did you hook up with The Jacka, Rydah J. Klyde, Fed X and AP9? We are all from the East Bay, and grew up in Pittsburg as kids - Jacka, Fed X and Klyde. Klyde is my blood cousin; same projects, same family. Then AP9 came out here and got on with the illest ninjas doing it. How did you become one of the Mob Figaz? The homie C-Bo got out of prison in 9 or 97. He heard about a pack of young ninjas who had heat, and he came to a record shop to listen. I was playing [basketball] in the local gym, dunking and shitting on people, and AP9 came in the gym and said, Aye, bro, C-Bo is out here. I said, I dont give a shit. Fuck rap! That shit is for fake-ass dudes who front. Im rich and selling dope is my occupation. You can sing and dance all you want, but Im cool. But AP was persistent and he persuaded me to go outside. Young C-Bo pulled up in a sporty SL Benz AMG thang, stupid clean, and I said, Fuck it, lets do it. Money was my life at that time. We went to the lab and recorded Ride Til We Die. It was an instant dumb-ass stupid slap, and C-Bo said we were a group and going on tour. I was really young so I had to ask my mom to sign me off with consent [forms]. All I can remember about that day was how the headlights on that Benz looked like they were blue; that new Euro shit. I was dedicated [to rap] from that day on. I  // OZONE WEST  // OZONE WEST

wanted to be like C-Bo, young and rich. What is one of your most memorable moments with the Mob? When C-Bo dropped Til My Casket Drop, I was still a young dirtbag choppin Os and you couldnt tell me I wasnt going to be the illest ninja ever in life. When I first heard somebody slide through stuntin, he pulled to the stop sign and the driver looked over at the crowd, rolled down his window, and punched his gas. His shit was stupid running, and he slid across the intersection, and let his top drop while he was still burning rubber, figure eight-ing and everything. When he turned his slap up I heard my voice; it was our song, Ride Till We Die, the first song to ever be on a real record, blaring out of about six twelve [inch speakers] in a drop 970 Cutlass, ridiculously clean, on five-time Zeniths. It made me feel like, this is everything I am to be, Mob for life. Youngstas love shit like that. Thats why I fuck with young ninjas who never had a record. I try to put them all on, I love the young ninjas. Do you normally write your verses or freestyle them in the studio? A lot of my music is off the [top of my] head. I feel it and I go. I focus on the music first, and when the music is slapping, I feel like Im thirteen again and Im in the car parked in the middle of my hood, blowing trees, and we four deep, making beats pounding on the console of the car - hitting the roof for bass while another person beat boxes. And its on me to spit dope to that perfect slap. Thats how I feel when Im on. I love this shit. I do it for young ninjas who live like that, to let them know that the raggedy Cutlass you rap in can turn into a million-dollar studio, or a stage with ten thousand fans. You often speak of Islam and occasionally rhyme in Arabic. Can you explain your faith, and how is your current incarceration testing it? I first realized that I was something other than what I saw on the wall at church as a young youth. I was raised in a religious family and my mother is very open to truth. I saw a lot of other kids getting baptized and I asked, Why am I not baptized? Everybody is happy for them. Can I do that too so everybody can be happy for me at church? My mother said, When you understand what it means to [be baptized], then it is your choice. Its between you and Allah. By the time I was around ten years old, I heard KRS-One rapping about knowledge. That was the second album I ever owned after [Too $horts] Born to Mack: [KRS-Ones Boogie Down Productions] Criminal Minded. The cover was a likeness of Malcolm X. Loves Gonna Get You was my favorite joint. As a kid,

my dad would make me rap around all the dope [fiends] and hustlers. I was only a kid and I thought KRS-One was a Muslim, so I said, Im gonna be a Muslim when I grow up. Thats really when it first crossed my mind. Arabic is the international language of Muslims worldwide. We pray in Arabic, we recite the Quran. Anywhere in the world there is a brother greeting you and speaking in Arabic. One in every five humans are Muslim! People dont realize that. Youve got several different names. How did you get them and what do they mean? I am the fourth, I come from a long line of strong and solid bloodlines, so obviously I was given the names of my father and his father. As for the names you hear throughout my music, along my path Ive been many places and around many cultures, and my peers tend to bestow these names upon me. As for my [rap] name Husalah (pronounced Husla), I mean, Im in a Federal prison for distribution of narcotics, so what more do I have to say? I should have chosen something like The Husalah That Got Away, because you truly do manifest your name. But I look at it like this: the name Husalah has the root Hus in it, [short] for hustler, but it also has the word Salah, which means prayer in Arabic. So I guess you could say that my name means remember Allah. Thats better than [a name meaning] drug dealer, at least to me. Im Muslim before anything. Since youre currently incarcerated, is there anything youd like to say about the informant who snitched on you? How close were you to that person, and why do you think they did it? I was told on by a close friend, and even worst a Muslim. But Hiram was destined to fall, and deep down when you know that people around you arent cut out for the level of crime youre committing, its your fault for fucking with someone that weak in the first place. The money canceled the risk, but to be perfectly honest, the streets have a strange way of giving those who cross it what they deserve. May Allah bless the souls of the countless many who fall, and those who have yet to [fall] but still owe the game. For me, I accepted the possibility of prison, even life if it came to it, thats when you have a grasp on how real this shit is. I might get life or I might not live past this summer - thats the mindstate of a true hustler. Its a harsh reality you must accept when it comes to this street shit. When you get to a certain level, you hear it over and over: Its either prison or death. For me, it happened to be prison, and for that I am thankful. I paid my price and Ive got receipts. I stayed solid and paid the game its taxes. How about you? Ask yourself if this is a reality youre willing to accept. This shit aint for play. I sacrificed for every dollar I ever made. With this hustlin shit, its not about an outfit or a chain or a car. Its not on you, its in you. What can you tell us about your experience being on the run from the law? How long was it til they caught up with you, what were you actually doing, and how much rapping and performing were you able to get done during that period? [The Feds] had been investigating me since May 00, and [they] said that I distributed somewhere around 0 to 0 [kilos] until I was detained in July of that same year. I was snatched in a huge Chicago sting on July , 00. I could smell the [th of July] barbeque from the county jail yard in Cook County [Illinois]. I love Chicago, they showed me nothing but love, but the police had nothing on me. I was not driving and I hadnt touched a single kilo myself, so I was released. I moved to New York the next month and tried to resume my music [career], but when 9/ came I left New York. Around

Thanksgiving [00] the house I was staying at was raided, and I was named as a fugitive. I remained free until a week after my child was born in January 00. I mostly stayed in the many projects I knew, from my own - the El Pueblo projects - to all over the town, OAK, even Shoreview in San Francisco. I would be walking like I was a regular tenant, seeing Fed cars and just acting like I belonged there. I felt at home right in the places they would never think I was, right in the middle of the jects. All I did was watch over my little young hustlers I knew. I lived how they lived, like I had nothing left. I had money, but when you cant go home? What good is it? I slummed it out. I barely rapped. It was like a dream that was real. I knew I had to face this shit, and all I could do was thug it out until they got me. Here I am, still solid and feeling great, like a real ninja should, no matter what. After your sentencing, what was your mindstate for the next few months knowing you were going in? How did it affect your work ethic and your motivation to be in the booth? When I was sentenced [to five years], I was almost happy. Five years seems like a long time to an ordinary person, but when you live this shit, its either that or death. I would gladly hop on a few

I could not stop [moving weight]. The hustle was still in me. Even though we made good money as rappers, the streets had more to offer. The risk was nothing to me; Id grown accustomed to death and destruction.
years on the shelf over the big ride [death] any day. I was relieved it was over. I felt like I beat it because they dropped [my charges] from conspiracy to possession. Conspiracy comes with a mandatory minimum of ten years, and I wouldve had to do whatever [time] I got, no choice, no options. Real ninjas take their time, period. Anything else and youre less than a woman and you should sit down to use the bathroom. Youre a bitch, period, but you bleed from your face when you get lit up not from your vagina like a traditional woman. I made a few more songs and went to prison as a man. My music reflects me, so thats what the fans got. Can you tell us about any of your personal experiences or addictions with dope? Youve made references in your songs to hop and china white. How real was it for you? You aint right for that question. What about the young dudes who are waiting to hear me say, I sprayed heroin on my weed. Dope aint cool. Thats how I look at it. Dont fuck with it. You might find yourself with a gorilla on your back when you thought it was only a monkey. Howd you first get started pushing weight? After your rap career popped off, why keep moving it? I come from a long line of street dudes, like I said, we all even share a name. When I was coming up, I was Lil Boobie James and everybody said to me, Boy, youre going to be exactly like your daddy. Hes a good man, real solid, but I thought I was going to play sports or some shit like that. I was against grinding. My patnas started selling dope at age 0 or ; thats how long my hood was. Im from a legendary project of the East Bay, the quiet money capital. So with all the respect the people had for my father even though he spent a lot of time in prison it was as if he never left. His blood was in me, hidden. I loved him and when I heard stories of all the street hustles he put down, it was almost like the people of the underworld looked to me to be the new king. All the old school friends

who knew my dad supported me, protected me, and raised me from a crumb snatcher into a young ninja pushing [weight]. I was trying to be like my big brother Spice Trig and Sauce Kelly, R.I.P., you know, dudes who stood for everything that is sold. And before I knew it, the world was in my hands. The sacrifice almost seems like nothing. All the death and destruction was collateral damage in the struggle. My mind got fixed on getting it and taking this thing far past what any person could imagine. It became my identity. I started high school as the skinny dude who was the class clown, and the girls never took me seriously. They said, Youre cute, but you dress dusty. The rich kids had Jordans on. I had on Cortez and Five O Ones. I got snagged with about $0 worth of crack at school, and they said, Youre smart and we hate to have to do this, but you cant play basketball. I never looked back. By the next basketball season, I came back to the school and showed up at the game. But this time I wasnt playing ball. I was ballin on they punk ass! I was the cutest dude in town by then. I was Young Hus. That shit made me. Soon after that, C-Bo came and put me into the studio. I could not stop [moving weight]. The hustle was still in me. Even though we made good money as rappers, the streets had more to offer. The risk was nothing to me; Id grown accustomed to death and destruction. I was raised in it and before I knew it, I was almost the only one left of my original crew. I miss my people, but the struggle must go on. To this day I look around and say, Damn, where did everybody go? Allahs got them. Youve wrapped, I sold crack all my life, many dreams I killed. How can you reconcile this with yourself? With your faith? With the plight of Black people in this country? You know, thats one of my worst fears, the punishment I must face. I can try to convince myself that I had no choice, but I knew better. When you commit evil and you have a relationship with Allah, you shall be held accountable for everything you do. I remember nights I had close calls busting at people, getting busted at, car wrecks. Sometimes I was running from the police; they were all over the hood and I refused to leave. I was into the overnighters real heavy. That was me, the young ninja with the stupid two for ten jumbos. I remember hitting gates, barely getting away from the boys. I would be in somebodys backyard and I would look up and see that the moon was so bright it felt like it was daytime. Thats how much I stayed out at night. I would think to myself in those peoples backyards, God is not protecting me right now. God would never allow me to behave like this. What Im doing is the work of Shaytain, the devil. Thats who was with me right then. I felt like that many nights. I am sure I must pay. It hurts me. Even if I knew not at the time what I was doing, it still hurts. Other times I would be out of town, out of state, and I would pick up money from people: shoe boxes full of bundles of money, and the money would reek of death; blood. One time I even had to get another room to keep the money in. It was screaming every story of every soul who had been destroyed for my personal gain. It made me feel sick inside. Until I went to the mall. Im joking, but its not that funny. Sad but true. Why are you currently serving time? I was put in Federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. I received [a sentence of] 0 months. I never spent a night in prison until I came for this. I had a long run [of freedom] so I cant be mad. If you get money the ways I did, be prepared to do time. If you arent prepared, get out. Youre not cut OZONE WEST // 7

out for it. Its coming. Every empire falls, from the great Romans all the way down to YOU, Joe Hustle. Who are you, anyway? Move over. Here comes the next baller. You had your time; how did you spend your profits? Here are some years to think about it. Now get back, and when you get out if you think youre ready, try again. Now that youre down, do you think about life on the outside? Were you truly happy? Was there anything you see now that was trapping you, mentally or spiritually, or that contributed to your demise? I always knew I was in a fortunate situation. I knew that if people understood me or not, I would still be who Allah intends me to be. Its been a rough road and I paid so much. I sacrificed a lot. I lost a lot. I lost friends, I lost love, I hurt a lot of people, and for that reason I remained distant from most. I accepted [my lifestyle], and I didnt wish to have any passengers along on the path I took. I drive coupes on the streets, two-seaters. I do my own thing. My reality may seem to be the next mans nightmare, but at the same time, my actuality is the next mans dream. I dance in the middle of a war zone and somehow I dont have a scar. Emotions is only based on something you miss. I dont even know what emotions are; all I know is that I feel alive. I would go through it all again if that was what it took to know what I know now: Allah is greather than anything great, and I am a warrior. People are making mixtapes and albums with certain Mob Figaz on them. Does that bother you? Im in prison; they need to keep the grind alive. Im cool with it. I dont look at it as disrespect, as long as the Mob is keeping it lit. Im good; staying healthy and avoiding busting heads every day. This game we grew up in is vicious. The life we are forced to live is deadly. Most street ninjas dont know that what they ride with every day on the block would only get them two years in state prison but can get you 0 years in the Federal system fast. Only a few ounces of crack is damn near a ten year [sentence] off top for a first-time [offender]. And if youve got a [gun] now its about ten more [years]. Its crazy. Ten ounces of crack will get you more time than ten kilos of cocaine. Why? Because young blacks deal crack, and rich people like Lindsay Lohan snort coke. Crack is only a processed version of its true form, cocaine. Its like that old song, They Smart Boy. Watch out. This shit is no joke. Should we expect to see a complete Mob Figaz album anytime in the future? I have faith that we are going to record and release an album, but weve been through so much. Im happy to see my ninjas alive. Feddy sustained a bullet to the head and not only is he alive but he still talks more shit than before. Weve all been in legal trouble. We are fools to have went through all this crazy shit when all we had to do was make music. The people pull for us everywhere we go. When I came to prison, people knew the song from the first and only Mob Figaz album and I forgot them. I was so caught up in trying to be some type of overlord that I forgot about the people and the music. But if I get rich we all get rich. If Rydah gets rich, were all rich. If Jacka gets rich, were all rich. Since youve been in the Feds you have an anthem on the streets Cuttin it Up. Its performed in your name and fans go dumb. Does that surprise you? I always was the one in the group to have my own fans. I always had the super grimy dudes and women who liked what I brought to the table. I was cool with just being on the hook, or having the start off verse, and letting everybody else shine. I like to see everybody get on, because deep down, I know what Ima do. Im great and it takes time for people 8 // OZONE WEST 8 // OZONE WEST

to see that. I wont tell you Im great, youre going to have to find out that secret. People started to get that special secret while I was in here, so now its not just the grimy hustlers who love me, but regular people too. Who wouldve known? Regular people like maniac music. Thats kind of funny to me. Has the music game changed since you started? A lot has changed. People rap about selling kilos but theyre wearing fake chains. Its crazy. I was a young ninja with dreams so I support even the smallest rappers. As long as youre a solid person, I fucks with you. Ill even do your crazy dance. I love black culture and everything that is project and ghetto. Im gonna need everybody to make a hit song so the whole hood can do a concert. We can have a million dances that white people love and the hood can have stars again, not just dope dealers, who might only be there until they get shot or end up here in Federal prison, looking at pictures of what we had. Whatever it takes to feed the kids, Im all for it, even the songs that sound like they were [recorded] in the bathroom. Take [that song] to number one so Junebug can stunt and buy a car and some rims, so I wont have to give him a ride. I drive two-seaters and the other seat is for baby with the big butt, so you need to get your own car so we can get in traffic and stunt on everybody.

so its fun to hear it all. If you know somebody in prison, your actions are all we have to go on. If you dont look out, how do we know [that you love us]? This shit is our reality. Look out for whoever you love thats in a place like this. Its real shit. I see youve been working out. Whats that about? You peep that? (laughs) Im working my supermodel game for when I peel out in that new stupid coupe. I cant let my car look better than me. What should we expect when you come home? Dont expect anything. I am a Muslim before rap, before anything. My path is the will of Allah. I dont mean to sound like Im preaching, but its true. Have you been writing songs? I really dont write in here. Im an artist who works on emotion and vibes, and Im not in a place that exudes creativity. I look up and see a thousand ugly dudes. How could I be feeling it in that circumstance? I do listen to a lot of music from all genres and I have a lot of ideas. The verses fall into place for me, but the music and feelings are first. Verses are only words, but the music moves the soul. Whats the latest book you read? RIYAHD-US-SALEHEEN, a book of habits and fortress of the Muslim. I read it every day. Youve got a good view at Terminal Island, huh? Yeah, my bunk actually sits right on the L.A. harbor, so Im beachfront. This is actually an island, and I always wanted to have a beachfront estate. I never imagined it would be a Federal Correctional Facility (laughs) but I have a great view. Im right on the water and I sleep with the sound of the waves and the tide rolling in. My life amazes me sometimes When I get back, the world wont be the same. Is there anything else youd like to say? Everything a man goes through can only make him stronger or destroy him. Life is 0% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. People have their priorities fucked up, and the reality of life is that this shit is not a joke. Have faith in Allah, and strive for what you believe in. To everybody in the system, stay solid, and believe that Allah does not bestow upon any man that which he can not handle. Even when this shit seems like a no-win [situation], keep pulling. Shout out to my young ninjas in this shit who Ive been bidding with: JB, Big Boob, Mark Young V, my brother Mike Mike, Slick G, my pops, everybody thats down, everybody from the Pueblo area. If Im on, youre on. Most above all, the uhmmah across the world. Allah the Glorified and Exalted is greater than anything great. //

I would pick up shoe boxes full of bundles of money, and the money would reek of death; blood. I had to get another room to keep the money in. It was screaming every story of every soul who had been destroyed for my personal gain.
Who did you look up to as a youngster that influenced your rap career? I grew up in the Bay Area, and I really didnt look up to any particular rapper. I looked up to the dudes who my favorite rappers were talking about and emulating. Two of them to be exact, who I happen to be on the yard with. Both are known as legends, Bay Area icons, who inspired everything from how we walk to how we hustle: Lil D and JB. These two men sacrificed a lot to remain men with honor and integrity, and stood for everything that is honor in the world that people glorify in music. To me its not just that they are legendary hustlers. They stand for ambition and strength, traits that any person can look up to, not just street people. Youve got a unique style. Do you have a stylist? My mom is my real stylist. Im from El Pueblo and staying dipped is what we do. Even when I was young and dudes pulled overnighters for Jordan money, I had to have Gucci sneaker and kick money. My hood stays stupid clean. Mobsters, hustlers, and players 00% across the board. Im the type of dude that can knock you out with a left hook while youre still thinking, He wont fight me with a coke white $00 sport suit on. Before you know it, youre down flat. Im everything fake dudes wish to be, live in the flesh. Shitting on people. Having fun. How have you been spending your time in prison? The first year I was wilding out, like every young ninja that come to prison. Slapping the shit outta anybody I wasnt feeling. I was winning fights, but when I got moved to a [higher security prison], I had to think, Hold on, player. So I learned how to do my bid like a real ninja; feeding my mind, striving towards my faith in Allah. Work out, soak up game, bullshit around, talk shit, listen to all the different types of lies you hear in prison. Everybody says they had thousands of bricks. Some really did,

Mistah FAB, Lil D, & Turf Talk

Known to some as the King of Oakland, Darryl Lil D Reed was born on December th, 98. Throughout his teenage years he helped fuel the crack cocaine epidemic in East Oakland and beyond, becoming one of the most powerful drug dealers in the Bay Area. Today, he is serving a  year sentence in a Federal prison on Terminal Island.
Words and Photos by D-Ray

Why are you currently incarcerated? While growing up in the environment I was exposed to, I witnessed a lot of people struggling. Both of my parents worked very hard to provide for me and my little sister. Personally, I never felt that I was poor, but I used to hear so many black people-including my parents-complain about how much harder it is for us to get ahead. So as I got older I began to ask, Why is it more difficult [for black people]? Thats when I became familiar with racism and how it affects our communities. My parents stressed education, so I studied pretty hard and became a bright kid, but I just felt that I wasnt going to work my butt off for twenty years for the government and still be barely getting by myself. SO I formed a somewhat rebellious attitude. I decided that I was going to do whatever I had to do to help my mom and others do better financially. I started scalping tickets at sporting events and holding drugs for my older homeboys. I got involved in selling marijuana and then I got involved with cocaine by simply buying /th of an ounce. I was just a  year old kid trying to help my family get ahead. I didnt know that I would flourish like I did, and I damn sure couldnt imagine what kind of damage I was causing to the communities. Unfortunately, the prosecutor and the judge who sentenced me concluded that I shouldve known exactly what my activities were doing to the community. I was given a  year sentence for being convicted of [possession of]  kilos of crack cocaine and 7 kilos of powder [cocaine]. That was my first time ever being convicted of any felony. Most people think that I was convicted of a murder. Ive been incarcerated since December 7th, 988, six days after my 0th birthday. If nothing changes with the law Ill do another 0 years [before Im released]. I know that selling drugs is a bad thing, but  years and life [sentences] do not serve justice. I strongly believe that Ive done more than enough time for the crimes I was convicted of. How did you get down in the streets? I was hustling for a purpose. I really wanted to purchase my momma a house and look out for my family and friends. The first thing I learned was to save for a rainy day. I showed discipline at a very early age. I used to stack my money in shoeboxes and feel good about my achievements. I was a great thinker who could always figure out ways to generate income, resolve conflict, and come up with sound solutions to everyday problems. Those qualities attracted people to me in droves. I became very popular around the time I got to 9th grade. Dudes from different neighborhoods trusted and respected me enough to where I could squash damn near any beef. Nobody from my era had that type of power. People listened to me because Im a great communicator; I express myself well. I had a lot of power in the streets but never abused it. I stopped a lot of violence that the authorities were well aware of when I was out there. Have your friends and family been supportive? I have a strong support system of immediate family and friends who appreciate the wisdom and knowledge that I share. They have witnessed me mature into the wise man that I am today. Ive built strong relationships with my son and daughter, who are both continuing their education, one in the Midwest and the other in California. Ive met some people who are trying to make a difference in the community of Oakland like Olis at Youth UpRising youth center, and Nicole and Diana at the Ella Baker Center. Weve discussed ideas of how to try to curb some of the violence. I sit down with some of the rappers from time to time, like Mistah FAB, Too $hort, [MC] Hammer, and others, trying to figure out ways to get through to these youngsters who feel like the world is against them. Even though I do get some support from these people, a lot of my so-called homies that I went out of my way to help [when I was free] dont do shit for me [now]. So dont think that my folks kept it 00%. Whats a typical day like for you? I get up at  AM, wash my face, brush my teeth, go to breakfast, come back and watch the news until 7 AM. Sometimes I take a little nap before I go exercise from 9 AM to 0:0 AM, every Monday through Friday. I check my emails before

Too $hort, Kilo, Turf Talk, Lil D, & guests

I head back to my unit to shower up before they serve lunch, which I dont eat most days. Then Ill do some reading or writing for a couple hours. I enjoy reading a variety of news publications and books like the Female Brain that help broaden my ability to grow mentally. At  PM I might go eat dinner, check my emails, and respond to the ones that are first priority. Then I go walk with one of my guys that I vibe with for an hour, head back to the unit, make a call to check on moms or one of my folks. Watch some TV, like Nip Tuck, Prison Break, or A&E. At around  or midnight I crash out and get ready for my next day of prison life, which doesnt consist of much. I dont hang out on the yard a lot because all you hear is old war stories and dudes complaining about how their girl ran off. Im antisocial in a sense because I dont trust too many people unless Ive known them my entire life. Also I did fifteen years all over the country before they brought me back to California, so I dont need a bunch of homies [with me] to do my time. Have you been keeping up with the conditions in Oakland the murder rate thats out of control, and a lot of kids, both boys and girls, going to jail? Sure I keep up with this, and its very sad because our youth seem to have lost hope. With our poor education system, its not possible for their mentality to change. Elected officials are willing to invest in building more prisons, but not better the schools. The bad part is that our people keep voting these people into office. We have to demand better programs for our kids. Why cant we have a Youth UpRising in San Francisco and not just in Oakland? Can you name at least one positive thing about being incarcerated? To be very honest, nothing is positive about this experience. I feel that as I wouldve gotten older, I would have realized that I could be successful in legitimate ways. Have you thought about the next phase of your life when youre released? I have more than prepared myself for when I get released. Ive learned a lot about real estate and the entertainment industry and I have the people and resources to immediately bring me in. Also, I would definitely like to go out and do some speaking engagements with our youth. I owe them that. If you could speak to kids who are going down the same road you went down, what advice would you give them? Dont be influenced by the money, cars, jewelry, clothes, and women, because the price you pay isnt worth it. Today you have a better chance at accumulating these things legitimately because of opportunities like the internet. But you have to be serious about learning in school so that you can compete in the workplace. Drinking, drugs, and unsafe sex will only destroy your future. Dont waste your life away like I did. One love. Where can our readers write to you? Darryl Reed 880-00 PO Box 007 Terminal Island, CA 907
E-0 & Lil D

OZONE WEST // 9

Getting Grown
Words by Jelani Photo by D-Ray

THE OLDER & WISER SAN QUINN!

There are certain memories--indelible images--embedded within the fortress of San Quinns mind, detailing the dramatic chronicles of his turbulent rise From A Boy To A Man. The defining moments of both his career and his life, these torrid flashbacks are subject to constant scrutiny, review, and on some occasions, discussion.

NEWSFLASH: BUSINESS IS BUSINESS!!

Priority Records office, 1996. The Sucka Free native has just returned to his new label home, courtesy of a once in a lifetime record deal with childhood friend and Get Low Records owner JT The Bigga Figga. Pac is alive. Yay Area radio boldly supports its homegrown artists, proudly championing the burgeoning scene to a nation wide audience of artists, labels, and adoring fans. 18-year-old Quinn, however, is about to get one of the harsher lessons of his fledgling career. Silkk the Shocker [had] dropped the same day [as me] with The Shocker, Quinn remembers. Silkks my patna, too. And this is no disrespect; this is a competitive, stupid young kid. So Im talking to the A&R and hes like, Yeah, Silkk The Shocker just sold like, 40,000 this week. Pause. You only sold like 14,000. Another pause, followed by a juvenile outburst of hubris. I was like, Put me and Silkk the Shocker in a room and Ill out-rap him. He said it didnt have nothing to do with that--it was business. The ambiguities behind the business of the rap game (a paradox in itself) still dominate the Northern California scene Quinn emerged from. It was, after all, business that led Quinn to spit out his first solo, Dont Cross Me, at the precocious age of 15. It was personal business that led to his affiliation and subsequent signing with JT (whose son is Quinns cousin) which enabled him to infiltrate the offices of Priority Records. And it was unmistakably business which led the youngsters (Fig was less than 25 at the time) to lose their label deal two years later, temporarily ending their professional dealings together. That kind of fucked me up, Quinn revealed. And thats when I started fucking with blow, right around that time. I started selling dope, and everything turned from rapping more into forming a street nigga.

FLASHBACK 3: LIES, STRAWS, MIRRORS AND PLATES

The most difficult of his recollections to isolate, this spiraling series of remembrances dates back to the early 90s and ends, somewhere, in Quinns conscience. Often shrouded in deception both of body and spirit, his lengthy courtship of Britney, Christina and Blondie--not to be confused with that of his wife--may perhaps be the final measuring stick by which his story may be judged--and upon whose ultimate demise his true transition to manhood may be evidenced. Where I come from, muthafuckers was smoking blow with their weed, Quinn admitted. That was the original thing. Like with me, I done used. You look up, muthafuckers giving you a plate, right? Then next thing you know, you buying it. But when you get the first plate youre saying, I aint finna buy that shit. Next thing you know you look up 10 years later, [and] youre buying it. You look up six, seven eight years later, youre out all night, lying to your wife and your kids and your folks; you done embarrassed niggas at the party. Quinns reconciliation with his life and career will be brought to the forefront this spring with Aprils release of his anticipated long player, From A Boy To A Man. Including heat from Sean T, Cosmo and Davey D on the boards and Messy Marv, Lil Quinn and PSD sprinkling the tracks with certified soil-based game, it will be his final say on the exacting journey whose toll he is just now beginning to weigh; a lasting contribution to the Movement. Me and Mess wrote Exxplosive Mode together, Quinn related. I was high as a kite when we wrote that. We were 19 years old experimenting. Thats why I say I looked up and a muthafucker was, you know, on blow. It was normal; when I was 15 I had started smoking cocaine and weed. Just cuz it was what muthafuckers was doing. It was a part of growing up where [I was] at. And I had an uzi, you know? Not bragging on that shit, but I didnt have it to kill nobody but its just that I lived in the neighborhood. From the era we come from if you fuck with hard, you a dope fiend. If you smoke crack you a crackhead. And Im not glamorizing blow but blow is flyer. I guarantee you somebody in the Forbes Top 10 snorts cocaine. Crack is cheap; they see you with it outside bent over. With me and blow, muthafuckers mightve seen me with my eyes bugged, but I aint never pull out my plate out around nobody. Except for the gangsters that I was having the blow with. So it wasnt noticeable... Til a nigga muthafuckin mouth starts moving and shit off blow. Your mouth moves too though. You get lockjaw, your muthafuckin eyes will be bugged out your head. You want to keep drinking to level it out.

NEWSFLASH: ROLL, WONT YOU COME OVER?

3rd Street, The 49er Club, 1997. Explosive Mode, Quinns magnum opus collaborative effort with blood-cousin Messy Marv, is burning up the streets and the adolescents life. Having sidestepped a contract with Master P, who himself is fresh off the success of his first film and soundtrack Im Bout It, Quinn is back to the independent grind with all of its querulous funds and infamy as he arrives at his wifes baby shower for his first born son. Somewhere in the back of his mind reverberates Ps prophetic admonition, Youre gonna deal with a nigga from the street and all [his] problems will become [your] problems; you and Mess should just sign with me. Niggas robbed my baby shower, man, he recounts easily. I had to hide in the muthafucking place; they pulled a gun on Mess. Mess didnt give up the [car] keys [to his Vette] or nothing. They put a gun to Messs head. Im hiding up under pots and pans in the joint, 19 years old, thinking theyre finna kill Mess. I didnt have no strap or nothing. [They robbed us cuz] our executive producer had went to jail, he continued. He fucked around and shot some niggas, and me and Mess were driving through the projects in the car that he shot at the niggas in, before he shot at them! He told us get up out of there, so we [did] and he goes back and gets at the niggas in the car. So word got around that me and Mess had got at them. So he gets out and we all rolling and I get a call from my sister like, Quit driving dudes Tahoe whos putting out your record. This is all the music business. I was like, I aint worried bout them niggas; theyre from a certain project in Frisco.
0 // OZONE WEST

The Silverback Gorilla

E-0s younger brother Mugzi soaks up game. ------------------------------------------

Wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. - Killah Priest, Wisdom, Heavy Mental
Wisdom. To speak wise words. To see things clearly for what they are, not for what they appear to be. But everybody aint able. Those who are, should let it be known. Those who aint, need to get a good sponge and soak How can you not listen to an elder - an older person - and they lived to be twice your age? demanded an incredulous Mugzi one rain-soaked winter afternoon. Like they aint never been through what youve been through before? ----------------------------------------- Magazine Street. The soil. The turf. The heart of the Hillside, that notorious section of Vallejo where many of the shoot-em-up, rah-rah, cookin cakes cracked out tales from E-0s early raps took place. The same place that Mugzi called home, developed his formative years in, along with the same 0 Water Mugzi calls brother. Eldest brother, to be exact, and whose company, Sick-Wid-It Records, Mugzi is currently co-piloting with 0s son Droop. Then theres the relationship with Mugzis other brother, boss balla D-Shot, and his plethora of film and record releases throughout the years. Sista Suga T and cousin B-Legit each rounded out the Areas first family of rap, the Click, and have sprouted their own respective albums, labels, and careers. No wonder Mugzis pushing his 0/0 imprint, with flagship artist (and cousin) Turf Talk, a new Mugzilla solo debut, and project after project with the Mossie, a group consisting of yet another cousin, Kaveo, and day one patna Tap Dat Ass. With such aspiring examples from his physicals, he had little choice but to get it. But first, there was still Magazine. I grew up in it, Mugzi laughed. Soon as I popped out moms stomach I was right up in it, in the thick of it. I cant talk about that type of situation. Thats like lightweight snitching - lightweight indicting yourself. Where I was born and raised it was knocks all day. The streets [were] flooded; it was good hustle. But you never use while youre tying to sell it, or while youre doing what you do. Thats the number one rule, I feel. Some people get caught up in it, and next thing you know their smoking their count up. If you want to make profit, youre not gonna be dipping in your shit. --------------------------------------------------------------A montage of sounds and colors, Beats By the Bays video for Stay In School assaults its viewer with an assortment of the hues and intonations of rappers from nearly every part of the Yay. Mugzi and 0 blaze through their respective eight bars along with Dem Hoodstarz, Cellski, Keak Da Sneak, the Jacka and more, urging the youth to get right for the sake of posterity - and a world well all inhabit. Such a message may not have come immediate to Mugzilla, but it was no less natural a progression. When youre a kid, youre going to get involved in certain things that are around you, Mr. 0/0 reasoned. You turn into a product of your environment.

But the wise men, my brothers, was detouring me out the way also. I [would] sneak and dibble dabble, and do what I got to do, but at the same time they were like, Ah naw, man, dont do nothing with him. As I got a little older, I got a little wiser. It aint the thang to do. I like doing this over here better than I like doing this over [there]. I dont like being stressed out, worried about the po-pos when I could be over there playing some good ball, got a few women loving me, doing what I do. And having a ball with it; being a star that way too then [coming] back to the track and be like what up? Aw man, you was over there, you just ran for 0 yards that game. Im loving it. That felt way better than sitting out there being a lookout, or going out there trying to get my little knocks off worrying about the po-pos. But at the same time you gotta do what you gotta do. You live and you learn, so once you live and you learn you try to break it down and teach others thats coming up under you. Just like it was taught to you. --------------------------------------------------------------The Sick-Wid-It Umbrella will be dropping the compilation The Machine in midApril, soon followed by 9 Unified. Future 0/0 releases include Mugzillas solo, a Lifestyles of the Disobeyish  compilation, and forthcoming projects from Turf Talk and Poppy Cash. // Words by Jelani // Photo by Jessica Essien OZONE WEST // 

ature my n in

Yukmouth may have been born into the drug game, but he doesnt plan on dying in it.
Words by Maurice G. Garland // Photo by D-Ray
 // OZONE WEST

s one half of the Luniz, Yukmouth a.k.a. Smoke-A-Lot helped make weed Hip Hops drug of choice when he recorded I Got  On It. As comical as that song was, Yuks life as it pertains to drugs is serious business. Here he speaks on growing up in Oakland during the crack epidemic, raps fascination with D-boy rappers and how his mother died while in rehab before she could recover from her personal bouts with drug abuse. Talk to us about your experiences growing up in Oakland during the start of the crack epidemic. I was right there. I grew up in the projects, th and east th in East Oakland. My projects was ran by niggas like Lil D and Felix Mitchell; kingpins. I grew up under that card, so all I seen was niggas in the hood pushing weight, dope fiends fighting and getting beat up, bullets hitting my windows. It was rough growing up. Im on welfare, Section 8, mom spending the welfare checks on drugs. I had to eventually start hustling to survive in life. We were homeless and shit behind the crack epidemic. We got evicted out of the projects [and were] sleeping and eating at the Salvation Army. We stayed with relative to relative, all because of the crack epidemic. It made my life change. So you got to see how a lot of cats went from being Black Panthers to dope fiends. I was born in the 70s so I was raised around the Panthers. Everybody wanted to be a Panther or Muslim; trying to uplift the community. My father was in the Black Guerilla Family, the offspring of the Panthers, but [he was] in prison. Everybody was speaking Swahili and all types of stuff. My family was BGF, so I grew up around that. [Everybody in] the community was riding for the cause but when crack hit, it shut it down. All the Black Panthers, the centers started shutting down, the leaders started getting on crack, dying off and going to jail. The death of the Black Panther movement grew into dudes being kingpins and dope fiends. Since you saw it with you own eyes, do you think the CIA and the government implanted crack in your community? Yeah, I believe they did it. They were scared of the Panthers; they knew it was the next big revolutionary thing since Malcolm X. The Panthers was THAT on the West Coast and they was branching out and getting Panthers on the East Coast and Down South. [There were] Panthers in Chicago; it was going everywhere and they were scared of it. Stuff started getting bombed and they blamed it on the Panthers and they started wiping them out byaking them to jail with outrageous sentences. They put AIDS and crack in the Bay to destroy the Panthers and thats when it started. Youve rapped about being a drug dealer. Seeing the extreme destruction that drugs brought to your community, why did you decide to get into the drug trade yourself? It wasnt a hard decision. I was poor and [moving from] family to family, but once I got with one part of my family, they were selling all the drugs. I started living with my uncle and it was a crack house. He lived where he worked at, me and my two sisters. So I got to see it hands-on, one-on-one. [I learned] how to do it, sell it, and cook it. It wasnt hard. I was getting spoiled. My aunt bought me outfits. I was in 7th grade with Gucci and gold chains on. My uncle was spoiling me. Then he went to jail and my sister had to hustle, then she went to jail. I was used to that life, so I said fuck it. I hustled for school clothes, then cars. I had my own apartment when I was 7. I started hustling because it was in my face. I tried to work [real jobs]. I worked at Taco Bell. I worked at Dominos [Pizza]. I had jobs but the hustle was making so much money that I quit. Did you ever sell drugs to your family members? I never sold to my relatives, but my friends did. They said they sold to my uncle or my father. I didnt want to believe it. My family tried to keep it away from me, but I knew they did it. My mom did drugs but I never sold to her. Did your mom ever beat her drug addiction? She never got over it. My mom passed. She died in rehab. She was trying to get her life back straight but the rehab [center] caught on fire. They locked them in their rooms when they [were] in rehab. I guess the staff member that let them out went to go get some food. When he came back the building was burning. They had gates on the windows, so they couldnt get out. So my mom got burned to death [while] trying to sober up and get her life right. Damn. We had to sue the city, all types of stuff just to get retribution and to feel better. We sued, but it still wasnt worth my mothers life. We had to go through a lot of stuff. Just losing [my] mother, period. Thats the most important thing in life outside of your kids. My sisters crying, Im crying, going through it. Because when she got out of rehab, she was gonna live with us. We were looking forward to that. A lot of rappers, yourself included, rap about drugs. Whats the fascination?

The rap business period is about trends. Ive been through all the trends. In the 80s it was fight the power and medallions, now its about bling bling, diamonds and being a drug dealer. I think people who dont know the streets watch TV and [decide], Jeezy blew up off that shit, so Ima go at that angle. Youve got to know this game because if you say numbers that dont add up it makes you look like an ass because you really dont know what the fuck youre talking about. You said that shit because you heard Jeezy [say it]. It dont go for $7. everywhere. 0 grams is not a kilo, thats a quarter. Niggas gonna know if youre speaking the right shit. If youre saying some dumb shit, niggas aint gonna buy your shit. Niggas are gonna look at you like a buster. If youre a backpacker, do your Kanye. If youre fighting the power, do your Chuck D. If you dance, do your Soulja Boy. But dont do this trapstar shit if you aint never chopped down no shit, or shot at no shit. Dont even mention that, because if you live by the gun, you die by the gun. Niggas are gonna be coming to your shows asking where youre from and theyre gonna test you. So you gotta be prepared for this shit. This blood and crip shit, too, niggas are claiming [sets] and theyre not from LA. Niggas glorify shit in Hip Hop, period. Youre gonna get tested by the wrong mfucka and your album aint gonna sell because game recognize game. A lot of rappers are smart. A lot of them came from college, good homes, so everybody aint from the projects. They try to pick up clues, read Don Diva, they [think they] gonna listen to Jeezy and Rick Ross and put their shit together and come out with a masterpiece. So at the end of the day, its good people that just do that. They just copy cat. We call them sponges in the Bay - soaking up game, but never been in it. Niggas know theyre fake and the whole reason its glamorized is because niggas are winning off this shit and niggas follow. When Ja Rule was singing, there were a lot of niggas in love at that time. Then 0 [Cent] came with the gangsta shit and everybody did that. Then Jeezy came with the d-boy shit and now everybody wants to be a trap star. Its about trends. When Pac was thuggin, everybody was thuggin. Niggas gonna follow the top rapper. The industry keeps getting faker and faker. Niggas know the real, fans know the real. Weve touched on how the Bay was home to crack. Nowadays it seems like its the home of ecstasy pills. Niggas is heavily off the X and coke. Everybody is snorting coke and [doing] X and smoking weed. Thats whats going down in the Bay. All the crackheads had babies born in the 90s and now they done grew up and these mfuckas are crazy. The crackbabies grew up and theyre crazy; shooting mfuckas for nothing, robbing for nothing. Theres a lot of dumb shit going down in the Bay right now because of shit that went down in the 80s. To each his own. Im not one to hate - do your thing - but its crazy to see 7-year-olds snorting coke and doing heroin and shit. Young girls snort coke to stay skinny and then these niggas think theyre gonna be extra tough if they snort coke. Theyre all Die Hard Rambo and shit, theyll shoot up anything so they stay on that, thats like their Superman juice. Thats what niggas is off right now, its wack. Its like fucking Taliban out there, suicide bombers. These niggas are ready to die and they dont give a fuck so drugs done took the whole Bay area out, again. The Bay is the players graveyard right now. Niggas are dying for nothing and theyre brain dead off these drugs. Its crazy as fuck out there, period. Thats why I live in L.A. Niggas be like, Aw, you from the Bay, whyd you [move to L.A.]? I moved because I know too many niggas, too many kingpins, riders, thieves, everybodys gonna look at me for something. Or, if bad times happen I might hit the streets instead of waiting until the next show comes or the next check clears. Im not a rapper rapping about it, Im trying to get the fuck away from it. I think Id be dead if I aint get away from Oakland when I did. I fuck with the kingpins, I fuck with the killers and I could fuck around and be hanging with them and catch a stray bullet so Im glad I got out and started a new life for my family where we dont have to worry about dealers and kingpins and pimps and stray bullets or going to jail or being in the wrong place at the right time. In a previous interview you admitted that albums like Godzilla were recorded when you was heavy off the X. Have you kicked that habit now? I let that shit go. Im focused right now. I dont do no X pills, I just smoke weed. I barely drink, I got so many DUIs in the last couple years I cut back on that. Im just on weed. Weed, water, exercise. I used to have the bumpiest face in America, but in my recent pictures, I got smooth skin, without Photoshop. Im eating good, looking good. Niggas called my last album a classic and even though Rap-A-Lot didnt push it, it still came in # in the Billboard Top 00. I outsold hella people on 0th & Park with videos because I got a fan base that holds me down. I got big opportunities jumping off for my next deal. Im not heavy into the drugs, Im into the kush and occasional champagne or Patron shot. I got kids, Im old now, Im cool on that young shit. That shit I was doing, thats for a nigga who had nothing to live for back in the day. I got  kids now. // OZONE WEST // 

DJ BooTH

KING oF THE SUPER HYPHY

DJ AMEN
[For the last Super Hyphy] we tried to end big. We filmed it and it was real big. E-0 came out and did his thing and killed it. People in other markets and other towns wanted us to expand, and they wanted to get a piece of the Super Hyphy. We still do shows in other places. Weve got a show coming up with Too $hort and The Pack but its not called Super Hyphy. Its just the same concept because were the people that started that. We just did a show with Lil Wayne in Tucson, Arizona with nine thousand people. We do shows in San Diego; we do shows in Los Angeles, Las Vegasall over the place. A lot of people dont know that we have an event coordination/production company [called Noisemaker Entertainment] so we throw events all over the West Coast. Its all about supply and demand. We find people interested in doing events and help them produce it. We get ahold of the artists, [book] travel accommodations, lock down venues, insurance, security, everything. Were doing some tour dates for the Tech N9ne and Paul Wall shows coming up. The Lil Wayne show is the biggest weve done in the last month or two. But we could do anybody. As long as youve got the budget we can put it together. // As told to Kay Newell Photo by D-Ray

he future for a DJ is being a businessman. An all-around hustler, marketing, branding; you gotta take care of all corners.

One thing always leads to another. When it came to the concerts, me and my partner were supposed to help this one dude book a show but he died a week before the show. I didnt know dude; he was just the dude that came to us for help. That was our first concert so we didnt really know what we were doing but we fell into it, and it was so successful that we kept doing them. Ive always been big into marketing and branding so I was like, Lets push this brand and make this a machine. By the time we [did] our 0th concert like people didnt even care who was performing. They just wanted to hear that name and that brand [Super Hyphy]. With the Super Hyphy, basically, it fell onto us [and now] were the best at it. I had my street team in the streets. My boy handled all the business, I handled all the marketing and we went hard. We wanted to come with something fresh to really take over the culture at the moment. It was instant success. We sold out twenty shows. We just had the right formula. Our biggest show as far as attendance was Super Hyphy  at the Santa Rosa fairgrounds. We had Keak the Sneak, Mistah F.A.B., The Pack, PSD and J. Diggs [performing]. There were over two thousand kids there, and we were doing this every  weeks, so it wasnt like we were only pulling in a thousand every once in a while. We have one to two thousand kids every month.

 // OZONE WEST

DJ AARIES & WILLIE JOE/THRAx ON WAx VOL. 2 Vallejo, California representer and ATL transplant Willie Joe hooks up with DJ Aaries for Vol.  of Thrax On Wax and over  tracks, Joseph proves why hes the newest ShoNuff/Capitol Records signee. Whether Joe is going retarded (Get On It), trading lines with B.O.B. (Life Iz Crazy) or teaming up with his Wataboy Ent. family (Keep It Coming), its clear why his buzz in the South is unmatched by other Bay rappers. Willie Joe is an artist to watch in 08 and Thrax On Wax Vol.  is a mixtape desiring of heavy rotation from the Bay to the A. Randy Roper DJ WARRIOR & PRIME/TRANSfORMATION

Transformation is the first solo mixtape release from Long Beach emcee Prime, and through 0 cuts the Cali newcomer shows promise but still has room for improvement. Tracks like Give Me The Grind, Dying To Floss and Go Hard are skippable, while Meagtron featuring Bishop Lamont, the sped-up flow on Machine Gun Funk and Change with P. Rod are this mixtapes best cuts. Prime has a LBC thing going for him but he still has work to do before he becomes the Optimus. Randy Roper
DEMOLITION MEN & THE JACKA/THE JACKA IS THE DOPEST

CINQUE/ANGEL DUST Whenever you think of Phoenix, Arizona, the words hot and dry come to mind. Hometown emcee Cinque leans more towards the former. Backed by production from No I.D. and Suave Houses Jiggolo, Que does a good job in showing that the Suns arent the only draw in town. The Eagles sampling U Know U Luv It and Space have Que displaying some nimble word play while Keep The Shotty On Me sounds a little G-Unitish, but still offers some entertaining moments. Cinque now is far from that guy you saw on Teen Summit back in the day, but, hes well on his way to making an impact in the rap game. Maurice G. Garland SNOOP DOGG/EGO TRIPPIN GEffEN When Snoop revealed that he hired other rappers to write his rhymes for Ego Trippin it wasnt too much of a surprise. Anyone with at least one good ear could hear the drop off after the Death Row crumble when he actually had to write his own stuff. But over the last two or three years Snoop has relied more on his personality than lyrical skill, as evidenced by last years The Blue Carpet Treatment. Ego Trippin has him doing more of the same, but it doesnt sound quite as good this time around. Highlights include the self-narrative Neva Have  Worry and Waste of Time featuring Raphael Saadiq. But his attempts at being different fall flat, especially the Johnny Cash-inspired Buy My Medicine and faux-Mike Jones sounding Staxxx In My Jeans. Overall though, Snoop still has enough likable songs to make it a solid album. Maurice G. Garland

The Jacka Is The Dopest is a solid mixtape from top to bottom. Break Em Off, Go Cop Whatever, Starz and Barney (More Crime) are memorable tracks amidst numerous standout cuts, while Doin It Moving and Got Paper are the mere two lessthan-impressive songs. And what The Jacka lacks in mic skills, he makes up for with vivid street tales over dope beats. After listening to this project, The Jacka, without question, is one of the dopest the West Coast has to offer. Randy Roper

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Nu Jersey Devil Venue: Tucson Convention Center Promoter: Royal Epic Clothing City: Tucson, AZ Date: January 0th, 008 Photo: D-Ray

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